Ruby autumn 2014 by Adcell Group

ruby editor

Season of mists & gloriousness It feels like autumn, doesn’t it? It’s almost as if the air has become heavier, gently tugging on us to slow down, to take a breathe, to chill. Just the other day, I was driving to the supermarket in that beautiful stillness of almost but not quite dawn (having run out of bread for school sandwiches) and was greeted with the most glorious view of a light cloud on the ground mist that reached from across the bay to the paddocks before me. With the window down to drink it all in – and to keep me awake, if I’m being honest – I could hear the mournful call of a foghorn from a ship I couldn’t see. And just when I thought it couldn’t be any more perfect, the sun came up just enough to flood the eastern sky with rose gold. While the mad rush of mornings was waiting at home, that small moment just made my day. That is just how I feel when I get to dive into Ruby each season, as if I get to breathe out and relax, to revel in the womanliness of it all. And in this autumn edition, we’ve gathered together a cornucopia of stories and bits and pieces we just loved or cared about too much not to share. Then, just as we were wrapping up this autumn edition, came a message from Italy. ‘Ciao bella’ it began, and with it came the most beautiful piece by Anna Marie Hughes on her adventures in Italy. Grazie, Anna Marie. And don’t miss your chance to win ticket to The King and I, coming to Melbourne this May. Whatever you are doing this autumn season, dear Ruby readers, I hope you all find at least a few moments to wallow in the glories of the season xx

‘Like’ us at MagazineRuby words davina montgomery 02 Ruby Autumn

contents

Ruby Psychology

Ruby Travel

Ruby Tuesday

Ruby Wine

Ruby Living

Ruby Spotlight

Ruby Retail Therapy

Ruby Health

Ruby Beauty

Ruby Q&A

Ruby Food

Ruby Book Club

WIN A DOUBLE PASS TO SEE THE KING & I THIS WINTER AT THE PRINCESS THEATRE, MELBOURNE. SEE PAGE 54 FOR DETAILS.

To enter email davina@adcellgroup.com.au RUBY is an Adcell Group publication. We try to get out as many free copies as we can, but we know that they disappear faster than fairy bread at a 4th birthday party. So if you can’t get your hands on a copy, why not subscribe to Ruby Network for a guaranteed copy of your very own. It comes with a membership too! See below for details. PUBLISHER Maureen Tayler ISSN: 1838-1456 MANAGER Caroline Tayler EDITOR Davina Montgomery davina@adcellgroup.com.au DESIGN & ART DIRECTION Chris Downey ADVERTISE IN RUBY MAGAZINE Vinnie Kerr M 0409 427 473 vinnie@adcellgroup.com.au Tanya Carroll M 0418 302 869 tanya@adcellgroup.com.au Adcell Group Geelong - Head Office T (03) 5221 4408 / F (03) 5221 3322 203 Malop Street, PO Box 491, Geelong, VIC 3220

rubymagazine.com.au

ruby team

Judy Baulch Living the daily juggle, Judy is an experienced journalist and editor. When she’s not running around after her two young kids, or busy with any number of work projects, she brings us her warmth, her humour and her insight into the ups and downs of life as a working mum.

INTRODUCING...

Charmaine Morse As a highly regarded local psychologist, when it comes to relationships, Charmaine has heard it all. While we are very grateful for her professional experience, what we love about her is her life experience and insight into just how funny basic human nature can be.

Annah Stretton A wildly successful New Zealand entrepreneur, author and speaker with an online following of over 210,000, over 30 retail stores and 3 books. Discussing everything from entrepreneurialism, living fearlessly, females in the work force, to helping inspire millions o of people to commit mit to a healthier lifestyle. life

Ally McManus Alexandra McManus is Ruby’s new sharp young thing. On the home stretch of her journalism degree at RMIT, Ally is freelancing for a few magazines including, of course, us. She says she could spend endless hours of her day on Pinterest where she finds products she can’t afford, food she doesn’t have the skills set to make and inspiration for an incredibly expensive and outrageously lush home. She does yoga, goes running, adores reading and writing and is attempting to broaden her baking skills in the kitchen as a domesticated goddess. She’s admits she’s got a long way to go… She loves escaping down to the coast whenever there’s a spare day so she’s lucky her boyfriend was raised down the Gippsland coast. When she’s not in Melbourne there’s every chance she’s down there or on the surf coast.

Elisha Lindsay With a passion for capturing special moments, Elisha Lindsay is a Geelong-based photographer who is fine-tuned to seeing life through the lens. When she’s not peeking out from behind a camera, she juggles the many and varied demands of a family ranging from teen to toddler.

Taking photos is another one of her passions; and no matter how many times her many loved ones scoff or roll their eyes as she brings out her phone for a photo op, they stay still anyway.

Anna-Marie Hughes A wise, warm and wonderful woman of a certain age, Anna-Marie has been writing for more years than she cares to remember. Like many of you, she knows that when the kids move out, a woman’s work is still not done… especially if the hubbyy is still at home!

Find her on Instagram at http://instagram.com/allymcmanus or read her blog at http://limewithroses.wordpress.com

READ Ally’s very first Ruby column, “The Value of Listening” on page 48 of this issue.

Olivia Mackinnon Olivia Mackinnon has been working as a beauty journalist since 2007. She has worked across all facets of beauty media and won numerous journalistic awards in that time. She is currently the Hair, Body and Perfume Editor of beautyheaven.com.au, Australia’s number one social beauty network.

Bianca White With photography so delicious it makes you hungry, Bianca is a talented young photographer from the Geelong region. Her textural, evocative work is in demand across regional Victoria, and her beautiful food photography is on show in each edition of Ruby.

photos elisha lindsay, elphotography.com.au 03 Ruby Autumn

04 Rubyy Autumn Autuumn

ruby psychology

Addicted to Validation? Would you agree that covertly and overtly we all seek validation? Most of us like to be liked and approved of. Well of course, that’s a no-brainer. Our self-esteem depends on it, doesn’t it? In the not too distant past it was bringing home a glowing report card, being on the netball team, winning a trophy – the coveted gold plastic figurine – these were the things that validated us as we integrated into our particular social groups. Granted, some of us struggled – oh, the humiliation of being the last one picked for team sports! We were told this builds character. Oh, really? I was always confused about that statement, isn’t a character somebody in a book or movie, or a unit of computer data? But hey, these were the supposed building blocks of developing our self-esteem. We fumbled around blindly trying to find our place, our sense of belonging. The trouble was there were no guidelines around this business of comparing ourselves with others to learning how to fit in. Ah, the old ‘where do I fit in?’ and ‘do I measure up?’ internal dialogue, that

particularly if we were part of the in-group. I’m wondering how that must have looked for our cave-women sisters, a bit different from nowadays? Mammoth dinner parties perhaps – oh dear, do I hear a collective groan? But it seems to me that the herd mentality of what it means to be accepted and validated has undergone a major metamorphosis in recent times. It seems that our need for validation has found a new domain to breed and propagate unheeded. Yep, you guessed it - through the Internet. Everyone wants to share, and share some more. As life stands now instant gratification is the norm. It’s what we have come to expect. The slowly, slowly approach of developing acceptance and validation appears to have been surpassed by the spontaneity of instant gratification. Now listen up and get with the program: sharing in the public forum is the way to go. Every thought is verbalised

“Ah, the old ‘where do I fit in?’ and ‘ do I measure up?’ internal dialogue, that seems to plague many of us relentlessly.” seems to plague many of us relentlessly. Psychologists and the like often refer to this as the I’m not good enough story. Those with a nicely rounded and robust self-esteem are of the belief that they are more than adequate, and deserve only best that life has to offer. For the rest of us mere mortals, we struggle along overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy and meagreness - now there’s your word for the day. Goodness gracious, we can be in a constant state of anxiety trying to get the gist of this fitting in thingy. Historically, validation of where we fit in and how we compare to others radiated out from family and friends in and around our town, and eventually extrapolated out as we tentatively ventured further afield. After all, we are social creatures and have gathered in small herds from time immemorial. In evolutionary terms, being part of the herd assured our safety and survival,

and shared, seeking its own little piece of acknowledgement, even down to the most mundane of information. “My cat just ate a blowfly.” What do you say to that? Do I really care? This instant gratification obsession permeates our everyday life. It’s what we have come to expect in all aspects of life – I want it, and I want it now! Our social groups have grown exponentially so as to connect to the entire world – to people we don’t even know and will never meet. We can share everything with everybody! There are numerous ways to share all aspect of our lives with the sole purpose of seeking and receiving gratification. Welcome to the social media phenomenon. We have Facebook and YouTube, we have Instagram, we Tweet and we Blog, and then we wait in eager anticipation. Phew, what a relief, an instant response – we get a Like

and another, and another. What a buzz – wow, do people love me, or what? Really? You just posted a photo of your dessert. But obviously you are now well and truly validated - until the next time anyway. And I guess that’s my point. What would it be like if no comments or Likes came through? Would you find yourself caring a little too much? Has this fun stuff sneaked up on you to the point where it has turned into a need? After all social networks feed primarily on vanity. We will share only the content that makes us look cool. Look at me, look at me! Here I am at a fabulous party; here’s me having pommes frites; look, I’m in Bali; look at my amazing friends… Translated, the aforementioned means – do you wish you were me or what? It’s effortless and instantaneous to connect with the world and be emotionally validated. Could it be just a little too easy to garner this affirmation of self? It seems we begin to crave that emotional high. Oh the joys of the dopamine hit, that feel good chemical release that comes with each and every Like, retweet and comment on our posts. We will always crave another hit. Don’t believe me? Try suspending your Facebook account for a week or two and feel how those withdrawal symptoms kick in big time. Even the thought of it sends your poor brain into shock. But hang on one moment, I hear you say, but that’s how my family know where my life is at and what I’m up to – it’s not about being validated and seeking approval, nothing to do with it… um, maybe, or maybe not. Don’t get me wrong I have a fervent adoration for all things technological, but seeking acceptance in a virtual world feels a tad artificial. Seems a bit transitory in the scheme of things. Who knows yet if seeking validation via social network platforms will show to be beneficial or detrimental to us vulnerable folk? Too early to tell but I’ve got you thinking about it! Take heed all ye online validation devotees: cyberspace giveth and cyberspace can all too easily taketh away.

words charmaine morse,name psychologist words author’s 05 Ruby Autumn

ruby tuesday

I hate drop-ins I would never make it living on Ramsay Street, and would probably be evicted from Summer Bay, because I hate it when people drop in without at least a couple of hours warning. From the neighbours stopping by for a chat while I try to nonchalently ignore that fact that I’m standing at the door in my nightie with mad bed hair as they try to hide their embarrassment (mine now being largely non-existent… benefits of a misspent early adulthood followed by, but not the cause of, childbirth) to the parents of our kids’ school friends, who seem to use their kids as decoys for a stealthy glimpse of what we’re really like at home, it feels like the Jones household is experiencing an epidemic of drop ins. To be fair, if we were other than the hopeless sloths that we are, I would probably love these unexpected chats over a cup of tea. But the sad fact is, apart from rare days when one or either of the two of us who pretend to be responsible grown ups have been at home for any other purpose than eating, sleeping or

06 Ruby Autumn

working, the house is littered with the detritus of small toys (LEGO, mainly… it is unbelievably stupid that they sent this stuff to astronauts on the international space station when it has clearly been developed with a well-hidden high tech system for disassembling and scattering pieces in the middle of the night), mugs of cold tea (hubby) and shoes (me). Although, for us, this is a relative minimalist design statement when compared with the piles of dishes, overflowing ashtrays and coffee mugs that could have walked themselves to the sink that marked the early domestic failures of our first uni squat. I have a few relatives that still shudder when they remember dropping in during those first few years out of home. I used to think it was only borderline OCD people and little old ladies who genuinely

enjoyed housework - after all, life has so much to offer, doesn’t it? But I have since learnt that doing the housework can be a genuine pleasure, almost a cathartic exercise, sometimes even for me. Some of my dearest friends are absolute domestic goddesses – greeting their guests with shiny floors, pleasant ambient aromas, clutter-free surfaces and upsettingly organised cupboards. Bless them; they have learnt to laugh at the flotsam and jetsam of paperwork, kids drawings and socks (always odd, no idea why) that seem to drift perpetually around our house. They just check where they’re sitting while we chat happily and I buzz around the kitchen, because packing the dishwasher and wiping down the bench is much more fun when there’s someone to talk to. But most of the time, I’m quite happy in my ‘lived in’ home… right up until the drop-ins turn up.

ruby tuesday One of the kids’ mates wandered up to the door recently, apparently alone. Being only five, we were naturally concerned, until we realised his Dad had parked a few doors down, thinking this would be funny… I had worked late the night before and was just heading off for a nana nap when in this small person barged, exclaiming in a disturbing blend of Steve Irwin and The Hotel Inspector, ‘Cor, it’s sooo dusty in here!’ This same child has loudly expressed his amazement at the state of my kitchen benches (why is such a mess?) and my car (‘Ha, ha, ha, there’s M&Ms everywhere’ swiftly followed by ‘Ew, what’s that?’ That was a Werther’s Original my own blessed cherub had begged from my Dad, then spat out on the back seat. A few hours later I found it, baked solid on to the upholstery) when I’ve brought him home for an unplanned play date. Naturally, this pint-sized package of disapproval doesn’t let his concern over my slovenly habits stop him from coming over regularly, tipping out every toy in the toy box, crushing a few bikkies in the carpet and gouging the walls with a light sabre. Does that sound bitter? Good! Just like the last time I remember enjoying Neighbours was when a lovable golden retriever named Bouncer was on the show, the last time I remember enjoying random drop-ins was when I was a kid. It broke the monotony of a day at home, plus it was fun to watch Mum wrestle with her duty to hospitality over the threat of missing out on her daily fix of The Young and the Restless.

Unlike me, Mum and Dad kept a spotless house, and every time there was a family birthday or party or whatever, would have my brother and I scrubbing all viewable surfaces as if it was the Queen, not their boozy friends with their snotty kids coming over

snack. Oh, the shame! Betraying the family streak of iron-willed stubbornness, she went on to refine that lesson to the point where she would regularly be found under the table, sweeping up crumbs with a brush and shovel while the grandkids were still eating.

Despite my lack of home pride, I love the idea of people I genuinely like dropping in, I just prefer it when they give me a couple of hours to get dressed, tame my hair, do a quick tidy and run the vac over the worst affected areas (yep, we use tsunami parlance around here).

Yep, the women of our family don’t do things by halves!

It’s not that I don’t like having a clean and tidy home. On those rare days when I stay home with no work to do, the house gets a very thorough going over. I won’t just tidy, wash and hurtle around the house pushing the Dyson, I’ll reorganize cupboards, disinfect the laptop keyboard and put all the LEGO heads back on the LEGO bodies and arrange them in groups according to genre. But if I have anything else to do (including oiling the deck and painting the back fence) then I’ll put off the housework. And yes, I’m aware all this speak to deepseated issues, but surely it’s nothing a few decades of therapy and more than a few mojitos won’t fix? I remember my Nan, many years ago, telling me about how she learnt her lesson about keeping a tidy home: how she had been mortified one day when a gentleman from the church had stopped by one morning only to see that the then young farmhouse wife had left mandarin peal on the hearth as the guilty evidence of a late night reading

But it did make me think. Let’s say most domestically skilled women spend 2 hours each day, for roughly sixty years on housework – that’s 43,680 hours, which equates to 1820 days or 4.98 years. Almost five years, non-stop, of housework. For the rather more manic types who would spend five hours each day sweeping, mopping, dusting, vacuuming, washing, folding, hanging and wiping, you’re talking twelve and a half years of housework – one-fifth of their waking adult lives. No thanks, not for me. So I sit here, late at night, because that’s the only time the house is quiet enough for writing, and glance at the coffee table. Hubby’s laptop, an empty tea mug (mine, destined for the dishwasher before bed), a couple of school reader folders, the TV remote, two pairs of shoes – both mine – visible through it’s glass surface, my bra that becomes inexplicably excruciating as soon as I start typing, and a makeup remover wipe, because even slovenly cows like me understand the important of good skincare. Most of it – excepting the mug and the wipe – will still be there when I wake up, because sleeping is so much more precious than having a tidy home.

words tuesday jones

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07 Ruby Autumn

ruby health

Caring for older parents It is a challenge more and more people are faced with the realisation that Mum or Dad just aren’t coping on their own at home. Being able to stay in their home can be incredibly important to our parents as they age, and fortunately, there are a range of services available to help them do that for as long as their health allows. When looking for in home care, it’s important to look for a fully accredited service with appropriately qualified staff that can provide the right services for your parents and your family. While it is true that MACS was originally formed to provide care for Geelong’s ageing migrant community, the incredibly highly respected aged care service provider has welcomed clients of all cultures. Today, their clients are just as likely to have ancestors that settled in Australia generations ago. This mix of clients truly reflects Australia’s diverse and dynamic community. The message: whoever you are, wherever you come from, whatever language you speak, MACS services are available to you. Lyn McCarter is an experienced and well-known Case Manager with 20 years in the aged care sector, and now leads the team at MACS Complete Care. Lyn said it is wonderful to work in an organisation that so actively appreciates the diverse multicultural community that makes up Geelong – and said that while the open door policy applies across all of MACS services, it is particularly so with Complete Care. Lyn has seen many changes in the sector over the years, and with Complete Care, she gets to see the difference it can make for clients and their families when they can stay in their own home with the help of tailored care and packages that genuinely meets their needs. The idea behind Complete Care is a simple response to community need – to provide in home care for people who don’t need to be in a hospital or care facility. And although most of the service’s clients are older, there are more and more middle aged, healthy and active people registering with the service, just in case they ever need help coming home from a hospital procedure or simply get sick and want to have help available without bothering the kids. “It might be picking them up from hospital and staying a few hours, or staying until the morning so they don’t need to stay overnight in hospital,” Lyn said. “If it’s personal care, or home care, they can have the same person to help them with the shower as well as helping with the cleaning, rather than

08 Ruby Autumn

multiple people coming in and out. It’s really being able to get what you need, when you need it.”

ruby arts

Lyn told me about one dynamic gentleman she met recently who had registered with Complete Care. Aged in his 80s, he kept his home and large garden very well maintained and was in relatively good health overall. But with his family settled interstate, he wanted to put an agreement in place so that if he needs any help, for any reason, he can pick up the phone at any time of the day or night. It’s simply piece of mind, and a little like a care-based insurance policy – only with this one you only pay if and when you use it. Complete Care is all about providing options and is proving popular as a back up support for families caring for elderly relatives living in their own homes. With the option of having staff pop in for visits, take Mum or Dad out shopping, to the doctor or hairdresser, or just to check in, means family carers can go on a break without the worry of leaving Mum or Dad on their own, or having to put them in an aged care facility while they’re away. The service is completely flexible, with staff working around what the client wants and needs.

A Classical Afternoon

For example, for someone who is otherwise perfectly capable of doing everything they need at home, but who, because of back injury needs help doing the washing and folding it, Complete Care can do that.

The Australian Doctor’s Orchestra with soprano Lee Abrahmsen will perform a special charity performance for Anam Cara House at Geelong College’s Keith Humble Centre on Sunday, 13 April.

This is personal care and home care, all provided by properly trained staff, all supported by MACS, and all delivered whenever and however each client needs.

The concert, conducted by Warwick Stengårds, will feature works by Beethoven, Gluck, Marshall Halls, Edwards and Hadyn.

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Lee Abrahmsen is a born and bred Geelong

performer whose many operatic awards include Australia’s most prestigious operatic prize, the Annual Herald Sun Aria and the 2012 Opera Awards Royal Overseas League Music Bursary. Tickets are $55 full price and $35 concession and available from www.eventbrite.com.au (search for Australian Doctors Orchestra).

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09 Ruby Autumn

ruby living

circle of design E

ver thought where the latest design fad comes from? Each era in history has a distinct dress code, architectural theme and artistic hero. We are able to define the history period simply by a building, artefact or the clothing worn in that particular era.

The Circle of Design is distinct in its evolutionary capacities; it is forever changing, drawing from the past influences and reappearing in another version of itself combined with the current influences. How fascinating. This leaves so much scope for new designs to be continuously developed stretching the limits into the next generation and leaving its mark to be forever identified as that eraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s statement. We are in an era in the 21st Century that is revolutionary. The world is a frail place and our Ecological environment is drawing our attention. Just note the changing weather patterns this year in Europe and across the USA. We are conscious of saving our planet, conserving water, seeking to recycle and inventing better ways at preserving our beautiful world. â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;All this has an impact on Design. The fad for handmade and natural anything is at an all time high.

10 Ruby Autumn

Foliage prints are taking centre stage as well as the use of timber, be it in a ceramic porcelain replica or natural state, it echoes our natural world. Add the introduction of colour and pattern and you have a very distinct design ethic appearing across our design palette.

today’s look. All design trends have influences from the past. What sets each trend apart from the next is almost guesswork even with the prediction of world design gurus. While trends can be influenced by design leaders, what we draw inspiration from is

“IF WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DELVE INTO THE PAST

THINKING

GAIN THEN

INSPIRATION WHERE

AND

WOULD

CREATIVE

OUR

DESIGN

PROFILE STAND TODAY? IT SIMPLY WOULD NOT...” Closer to today, the Retro fad is dominating the arena at the moment. Take a leaf from “Home Beautiful” 1972 and there we are, all the inspiration possible, revamped and brought into today’s Lounge Room. Suddenly that 60’s and 70’s chair is a valuable item and makes a design statement in 2014, add a foliage print designed by Florence Broadhurst in the 60’s and it is cleverly intertwined with

our current environment be that politically or even culturally. If we were not able to delve into the past to gain inspiration and creative thinking then where would our design profile stand today? It simply would not or we would be reinventing the very concepts we are gaining inspiration from ourselves. Sounds like double Dutch? A simple illustration is just a thought away such as who invented the circle,

or the mathematical equation of a triangle or who discovered how to build a pyramid? If you are into designing then the fundamental mathematical basis used in all design procedures are based in the Design Principles. This all relates to our every day design process such as drawing plans and design components and I make that statement knowing full well that the cornerstone of design is not only drawn from nature but also very much in tune with fundamental science and mathematics. As humans we are forever grasping new concepts and ideas, formulating them into inventions, science, the arts and gaining a new perspective on old ideas. The advancement of technology has far exceeded our everyday expectations. No one could have predicted what we, in

the year 2014 are faced with. An information overload exists into every area of our lives on a daily basis. We are heading into unknown territory with little direction for stability and control. If our minds are continuously bombarded with new and upgraded systems in technology then we need to keep inventing new strategies to learn, cope, change old patterns and forever cling to the concepts that to live in this decade, life is full of rapidly changing alternatives. Some how that does not compute with the very human ethics we are all born with, regardless of our education or race. The simple human desire to invent and make one’s own mark will continue to flourish in our world of design and continue in this ever changing circle. This is what real design is all about.

words paulina bird, resident senior interior design, suregrip ceramics

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11 Ruby Autumn

ruby money

Season of mists and fire risks Autumn is the time of year where leaves fall off the trees in glorious shades of yellow and orange. It’s the time where everyone has settled back into the daily routines after the chaos of summer holidays. We start eating comfort food and relish time indoors, and get confused as to what to wear with the everchanging weather. It is also the time where these falling leaves fill your gutters and the daily grind can leave you on autopilot and maybe you forget to turn the stove off… This is why autumn is also a great time to review your insurance: so you can be sure that during winter, when most house fires occur, that you are properly insured. So, pull out your papers from that bottom drawer in the office and firstly ensure you have everything covered; the house, the

cars, your ‘stuff’, the pets… you would be surprised as to how much you have! Walk around your home, taking note of the more expensive things you own: the TV, the lounge suite, that premium latex mattress. These quickly add up, let alone the cost in phones, laptops, tablets that you and the kids use every day. To help you make sure you are completely covered, here are a couple of tips to keep in mind: • Read through your insurance papers, paying close attention to the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS.) • Pay a visit to your insurance agent and ask all your questions in person, of course we can do this over the phone too.

• Complete a contents replacement ready reckoner. This is a handy document that allows you to add up the replacement costs of everything you own. Ask us for an electronic copy. • Prepare for the event of a fire; keep fire blankets and fire extinguishers on hand, test those smoke alarms and practice your fire escape plan. With over 1000 house fires each year and with most of them occurring in winter, it really pays to spend the time needed to review your insurance. And remember, having the right insurance is no accident. PS: A brick home might have saved that clever 3rd little pig, but it can still burn!

DISCLAIMER: This article is for guidance only, and professional advice should be obtained before acting on any information contained herein. Neither the writer, publishers nor the distributors can accept any responsibility for loss occasioned to any person as a result of action taken or refrained from in consequence of the contents of this article. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.

words melissa vella, allsure insurance

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12 Ruby Autumn

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ruby business

Protecting Personal Information As businesses prepare for the Privacy Act reforms that are came into play in March, it is important they also look at the security of the personal information they hold. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has released a “Guide to Information Security: reasonable steps to protect personal information.” This Guide provides information to businesses on the measures they need to be taking to protect personal information, including sensitive information. Currently, the Information Privacy Principles (IPPs) and the National Privacy Principles (NPPs) require businesses to take ‘reasonable steps’ to protect the personal information that they hold from misuse, loss and from unauthorised access, use, modification or disclosure. This obligation is retained in the new Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). However, it is important to note that APP 11 requires a business to take the further

step of protecting personal information from interference. The inclusion of this is intended to recognise that attacks on personal information could also include interference such as computer hacking. When the OAIC investigates a potential breach of the APPS, it will consider two factors: 1. The steps that the business took to protect the information; and 2. Whether those steps where reasonable in the circumstances. Here are some steps and strategies that businesses could consider in order to protect personal information: IT security: Using effective IT measures, as

well as ensuring websites are secure and safe for individuals to use. Physical security: Regulating access to the workplace and securing workshops and storage areas. Testing: Regular testing of security systems to identify any weaknesses that require attention. Workplace policies: Training staff on their responsibilities under the businesses privacy policy, as well as conducting compliance reviews. The Guide also outlines what is considered to be a ‘reasonable step’ in ensuring the security of personal information. This includes the nature of the business holding the personal information, the nature of the information being held, the risk of harm and the data handling practices. Whilst the Information Security Guide is not binding, the OAIC has stated that it will refer to the Guide when assessing a business’ compliance with its obligations under the Privacy Act.

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13 Ruby Autumn

ruby business

Meditation on grief Beth King, Kings Funerals.

The photo of me here was taken on Sunday 23 February at the Waterfront and the next day my life changed irrevocably. I grew up in Geelong and was exposed to my family’s business from a young age – my first job was typing death and funeral notices for the Geelong Advertiser and I quickly learnt that we are surrounded by small and large tragedies every day. After spending my young adulthood studying in Melbourne and freelancing around Australia and Europe, I returned to Geelong in 2009 and re-joined the Kings Funerals team. Throughout my life I have always taken and created opportunities to have conversations about death and grief because I believe that our society does not prepare people to confront the terrible reality that each of us will only be physically present in this world for a finite period of time. However, working with bereaved people and continually refining our funeral service offerings

could not prepare me for the experience of losing my friend Alli. Just one week earlier we were sharing stories about the awesome gigs we’d been to (Dolly Parton for me, Bruce Springsteen for her) and she was casually dropping pearls of wisdom before we both rushed out the door to our next appointments. People working in the funeral sector are uniquely privileged. At a time when all around feel helpless and unsure what they can do or say to provide comfort we are able to provide tangible and meaningful assistance to create a funeral service that reflects the person we have lost, our love for them and the memories we have. It was incredibly special and powerful to be able to take the time to sit and exist with my grief while focusing on ensuring that I provided a quality service to Alli’s family and the wider words beth king, bking@kingsfunerals.com.au

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community. The ultimate aim of a funeral service is to induce transformative grief, a state in which the people gathered together are engaging deeply with the reality of their loss, sharing stories and taking their first steps on the path to healing. I believe that, with the efforts of Fr Dillon and the eulogists, we were able to create a transformative funeral service and am so honoured to have been trusted by Alli’s family to accompany them at the start of their new life. Originally this article was going to be about the upgrades to our online eTributes, which launched the day Alli died. While it was an extraordinary experience to see the project we had worked on for over a year roll out exactly as we had theorised and to see and contribute to the messages and photos shared by family, friends, business associates and Federal politicians, when I sat down to write I felt that this was a better story to tell. Vale Alli – we will do our best to live the lives you would want for us.

ruby money

Are you super ready for retirement? It is well known that most women retire with less in their superannuation account than men. According to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA), less than 10% of women aged in their early 60s currently have enough superannuation in their own right to fund a comfortable standard of living in retirement. This is felt most with single mothers, who spend a lot of their working years rearing children, only to find themselves with inadequate superannuation at retirement. There are many reasons for this, but generally it is because: 1. Women often earn less than men. 2. Women have a career that is interrupted by childbirth and childcare, often reducing their working life by 5 to 8 years or more. 3. Women are more likely than men to work part-time. If the above describes you, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t despair - just do something about it. There are several initiatives in place that can help you to increase your superannuation. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a matter of going through and considering those that apply to you. Below are five means of increasing your superannuation savings. The first three

can be implemented by anyone (providing you satisfy the eligibility criteria), while the second two are more suited to the financially secure woman. 1. Superannuation Co-contributions. This is a scheme whereby the Australian Government will contribute to your superannuation fund based on the contributions you have made and your income. For instance, if you earn $20,000 working part-time, and make an un-deducted contribution (that is a contribution from your own pocket, rather than salary sacrifice) of $1,000, the Government will contribute $500 to your super fund for the 2014 financial year. There are eligibility requirements so visit http://www.ato.gov. au/Rates/Key-superannuation-rates-andthresholds/. 2. Make a spouse contribution. If your income is less than $13,800 for the financial year, your spouse can make a contribution to your super fund of up to $3,000 and claim a tax rebate of up to $540 (reducing after your income reaches $10,800). This is a great strategy for families where

the husband works and the wife stays at home. 3. Contributions made to the husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s superannuation account can be split. This has advantages in that it can equalise superannuation between partners and it also can open up financial and tax planning opportunities. 4. If you or your partner runs a business, make a tax-deductible contribution of up to $25,000 (or higher depending on your age). This has the added advantage of allowing the business to claim a deduction for the superannuation and reducing tax. Once again, there are eligibility requirements, which you should read at http://www.ato.gov.au/ Rates/Key-superannuation-rates-andthresholds/. 5. If you have a self-managed super fund, you can transfer shares that you own into your super fund. These are transferred in at market value and will be allocated to your superannuation account. We strongly recommend you check your eligibility for the above and plan now for retiring with enough super.

words krystine canny-smith, s.j.canny certified accountants 15 Ruby Autumn

ruby voices

When did the money question become so hard? The question of money can be a difficult one to approach for people in business, but by basing your products or services around what the market expects to pay, and being clear from the outset about how and when you expect to be paid, the money question can become a lot less stressful to deal with. When we have determined our price and start to sell a product, why do we find it so hard to get paid? Why do the money conversations become so difficult. Being paid is the most important part of your business model, so from the get-go make sure that you clearly identify how this will happen. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in retail itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not so difficult as there is an expectation that people will pay at point of sale. If you are offering a service expect the same immediate payment, regardless of whether you bill when you have finished the job or before you start. There are plenty of mobile transaction devices that will enable payments to happen offsite. Simply be very clear about what you want. Have the money conversation as part of the initial contracting of your service. It is a healthy part of the transaction process (people expect to pay). Tell them what your payment timeframe

expectations are. In many cases you can get paid up front, i.e. before you start the work. If you decide to set up regular sessions with the contractor of your services, you may decide to enter into other arrangements for payment going forward. If so, make sure they adhere to them or the service stops! People contracting you have no problem making a request for your service, so you should have no problem asking for the money. This is not a taboo subject. You need to be paid. It is a very necessary part of the business process. The second part to the money problem is deciding what price to charge for you services or products. Why do we all find it so hard to ask for the money when we start out in business? And worse still, why do we undervalue the product and services that we offering by starting out with a modest and often not a break even approach to our price setting?

Your income constraints will not be your customers. Research your competition and identify your points of difference (you need to be very clear as to what these are and define these in your marketing speak). Then decide on your price. This may not be relevant to what it costs to produce, but it must meet the market you are targeting and the perceived value. I know that if we price a dress cheaply people automatically assume it has something wrong with it. The biggest mistake I see people make is that they assume that everyone that they are intending to sell their product and services to has the same income constraints as they have (the retail team in our stores often do this). They will assume a woman can only buy one dress when in fact she has the earnings to buy so many more. It is simply about the range of service and fit for purpose offerings that are made to her.

words annah stretton

Generations of experience tailoring recruitment to your needs. We take the time to understand your business to ensure we present you with candidates that have the skills, behaviours and attributes you need for a productive workplace. We provide recruitment services to industries including: Sales s Finance s Marketing s Retailing Engineering s Facilities Management Mining s Transport Business Services s Construction industries Recruitment Services Geelong and Ballarat CALL US: Sarah 0487 591 660 | Adam 0439 000 292 | www.sjpersonnel.com.au

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ruby loves

A LITTLE BIT OF THE HAMPTONS AT HOME Chic, simple and the epitome of relaxed style, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the dream of many a girl to one day have a Hamptons-style home. When Adelaide girl Letitia Linke fell for a farmer, she swapped paving for paddocks and city living for a grand new country home. Set on a stunning farming property on the Yorke Peninsula, Letitiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monochrome makeover took Ambleside onto the pages of home and lifestyle magazines, and turned the house and property into film and photography location. But the search for gorgeous contemporary country homewares, furniture and linen inspired her to start her own interiors and design business, The White Shed. From classic homewares to fabulous furniture, if you yearn for a touch of the The Hamptons in your home, jump online and check out thewhiteshed.com.au

www.thewhiteshed.com.au 17 Ruby Autumn

ruby fashion Presented by The Woolmark Company. 27 March â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4 May 2014 National Wool Museum 26 Moorabool Street, Geelong Open: Monday - Friday 9.30am-5.00pm, Saturday & Sunday 10.00am-5.00pm Price: Adults $7.50, Conc $6, Child $4, Family $25.

FUTURE WOOL The Future Wool exhibition showcases the Merino wool collections of the nominated designers of the 2013/14 International Woolmark Prize. It highlights the versatility, quality and beauty of Australian Merino wool at the hands of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest emerging fashion designers. The International Woolmark Prize is generating significant interest across the globe, demonstrating the key role the fibre that built our nation still has in the global fashion industry.

national wool museum, nwm.vic.gov.au 18 Ruby Autumn

ruby socialites

A PARTY WITH A SERIOUS MESSAGE On March 7th, the newly formed Women in Community Life Advisory Committee partnered with Zena Women’s Services to host a special International Women’s Day event at the Geelong Football Club. There were plenty of laughs, a few sobering messages and, most importantly, some vital funds were raised to help women in crisis accessing Zena’s services.

Studio - 162 Bellerine St, Geelong elisha@elphotography.com.au 0439 353 958

elphotography.com.au

photos elisha lindsay, elphotography.com.au 19 Ruby Autumn

ruby loves

G EN E R A L PUBLIC WELCOM E! Whethe r you are af ter just one item or wish to buy in b ulk. The vari et y of p roducts Byars ha s to of fe r is amazin g.

store • wrap carry • bake • serve & much more Byars Flexible Packaging have a huge range of food containers. From takeaway food containers in various sizes to eco-friendly paper plates and platters, cake boxes, lollies bags and wrapping. They have an amazing variety of bits and pieces making Byars your one stop shop for all your disposable packaging needs.

www.byars.com.au, 135 fyans st, south geelong, p: 5229 9998 20 Ruby Autumn

ruby spotlight

Va va voom Vespa A vintage Vespa complete with sidecar and covered in psychedelic stripes is not what you expect to find in the foyer of a business supplying technology solutions, but walk into Mercer Street’s Xtreme Technology and there it is in all its candy-coloured glory. “Since we put it in here, people just stop and come in and say, ‘hope you don’t mind, I just have to take a picture,’” laughs Lea McBurnie of Xtreme Technology, who first spotted a similar Vespa while holidaying in Bali with her family. “I used to have a Yamaha 1100 when the kids were little and my husband has always had Harleys, but we went to Bali and saw a stripy Vespa and sidecar in Ubud. We were just walking down the street and saw it and I was like ‘that’s so cute!’ and the kids were saying, ‘Yep, Mum will have that one’ and yep, Mum did. I just had to have it, so we found one that was the same age as me and I asked the guy, ‘How much to get it changed to all THESE colours?’” Of course, the intricate paint job was much cheaper than the cost of importing the finished product from Bali to Australia, but Lea is more than content with her purchase. Although she is also the proud owner of a far newer, bright orange 300cc Vespa in order to keep up with her husband’s Harley – “The stripy one is like a vintage car: it goes really well, but you can’t go over 60 kilometres an hour!” – the stripy Vespa has become Xtreme Technology’s unofficial mascot. “Most of the time it sits in the showroom because we’re renovating at

home and we brought it in here to get it out of the way, but now it’s just been such a hit that it’s on our website - the colours just sort of suit the printing theme - and I don’t mind if people come in here because of it!” But there is a serious side to the stripy sidecar. Lea has seen her sister, her cousin and her close friend suffer from cancer. Another cousin who tested positive for the BRCA genes recently made the heartbreaking decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy. “She has two young kids and when there are so many of us in the family with cancer [Lea herself is fine] she decided to make that decision. And it’s one where you can never know what you’ll do until you have to make that decision for yourself – people are very judgemental, but when you’re given news like that…The last thing you need is time off work or to have surgery, but better that than [getting bad news] a couple of years down the track.” Last year, Lea got the chance to take a close friend who is suffering from second stage cancer as a passenger in the sidecar for the Geelong Pink Ribbon Ride, a fundraiser for the Andrew Love Centre. They made a bright spot of colour amongst all the Harley Davidson motorcycles.

“My friend had wanted to come the year before but was too unwell, but she was determined to come last year. You have to hold on in that sidecar – there’s no suspension back there – so I kept saying to her ‘Are you all right?’ but she was so happy to be there. They made me the lead bike but, of course, I would take off and within 30 seconds they’re all going past us and she and I would be puttering along there until the next stop. We were just in hysterics the whole time.” Next year, Lea plans to ride the stripy Vespa in the Geelong Harley Cancer Run; also a fundraiser for the Andrew Love Centre and Xtreme Technology will be a major sponsor. “[Cancer research] is just one of those causes that you will do anything to help,” Lea says emphatically. “It’s amazing what they can do now and it’s only through fundraising events like this that they get donations to do all the research.”

words judy baulch 21 Ruby Autumn

ruby retail therapy

Who says size doesn’t matter? It’s nearly here ladies. In May, shoppers will get their first look at the new Coles Superstore and full line Kmart at Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre. There are just so many great new products... hmm, just have to drop the kids somewhere so I can shop in peace...

he doors to the next stage of Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre will open at 9am on May 21, marking the completion of Phase 1 of the centre’s $65 million expansion. And there’s more to come later in the year. But even just a quick look at what’s on offer in the enormous new Coles and Kmart is more than enough to take in for now. This is shopping on a truly grand scale. Oh, and there will be new car parks open as well, yay! With the expansion including a total of 700 new parking spaces. Openings are great and heaps of fun, but the real excitement is that Geelong will now have one of the biggest Coles superstores in the state, and a brand new full line Kmart. Superstore? That’s right, when it comes to supermarkets, size really does matter, and the new superstore is HUGE! The new superstore will feature the MIX Apparel range, the full Coles Cook & Dine cookware range, and dedicated Baby & Toddler section, and there’s a café, a patisserie, a huge bakery, a full deli, amazing fruit and veg market area, and it just keeps going. There were almost too many exciting things to look at – including the red hot bargains at Kmart, but with the approaching cold weather and craving from home-cooked deliciousness, we couldn’t go past the Coles Cook & Dine range. With over 300 products starting at just $3, the range features stylish designs for fashion-forward dinner party hosts, practical basics for every kitchen and a few nifty kitchen gadgets and gismos for serious foodies. We love the French inspired bakeware, with mini ceramic cassoulet dishes, mini square, oval and fluted tart baking dishes in classic colours like deep red, royal blue and pure white, and the beautifully simple white basics crockery. The Cook & Dine range also includes quintessential white dining crockery, with basic porcelain plates in round and square for both everyday dining and special occasions. And there are some just gorgeous vintage-inspired pieces, including a selection of mason preserving jars, ceramic-topped glass milk bottles, as well as modern chic glass teapots and tea infusers. There’s no way we can tell you about all the fabulousness here, so you’ll just have to head to Waurn Ponds to see it all for yourself in May - timed perfectly for when the kids are back in school!

WaurnPondsSC 22 Ruby Autumn

Coles Cook & Dine Range. Images supplied by Coles.

ruby retail therapy

waurn ponds shopping centre www.waurnpondssc.com.au 23 Ruby Autumn

Clinique Happy Heart, from $79, 79, 1800 180 00 556 948 Classic. Sweet. Bright. An oldie but a goodie, Clinique Happyy Heart Hearrt has all of the ingredients to turn a dreary, rainy ny day on its head. Notes of water hyacinth are matched ched with w zesty mandarin and deep, warming blonde woods to make y into the for a well-rounded juice that’s bound too lift you right kind of mood.

ruby beauty beeauty L’Occitane Red Cherry Intense, $72, 02 8912 3000 L’O Juic Juicy. Intense. Sensual Plen Plentiful in petals, the newest offering from L’Occitane provides all of the rich juiciness of summer cherries, teamed with crisp, red spring flowers – yet somehow it seems perfect for sum autumn wear. The fragrance is sharp – it demands attention without offending. The notes autu man manage to fi nd their way to your nose and settle there, tempting you to smell again.

See by Chloe Eau Fraiche, from $70, 1800 0 812 663 Fem Feminine. Lightweight. Sheer. These es words describe a gloriously girly fragrance thatt uses notes and jasmine to grasp hold of a brisk autumn of vetiver ve u umn day, as well as bubby notes of water hyacinth and apple a blos blossom that work to thrust it well and truly into spring territory. sprin

EAU SO AUTUMN It seems that this year, autumn is taking a leaf out of spring’s book. Pardon the pun. That is, delivering a vast array of scents with superb floral undertones. Each time you sniff, it’s just like immersing your nostrils into a fresh bouquet of your favourite stems. we Not that w e sshould be complaining, mind. Sometimes all it takes to lift us out ou ut of o a dreary autumn day is a spritz of something sweet, et, something g that th will uplift us and make us feel warm, while staying loyal lo oyal traditional, to a traditio ona crisp Autumn feel. So, why not no ot get g acquainted with a few autumn scents that will allow ow w you to embrace e a chillier season, while still maintaining a sunny disposition? sition? Here are fifivve you’ll love…

Giorgio Armani Si, from $85, 1300 0 651 6 991 Elegance. Fun. Depth. These are the words that come to mind when smelling this delectable new release from major fashion house Giorgio Armani. ni. The scent contains a mesmerising blend of notes that defi nitely grab attention, including cassis nectar, light musky wood, d, sensual vanilla, freesia and patchouli.

Tom Ford Velvet Orchid, from $155, 1800 061 326 To Se Seductive. Exotic. Decadent. Be Besides having one of the most fabulous-looking flacons yo you ever will see, this deep, moody fragrance is the perfect perfume to warm a chilly autumn evening. Opening with pe cool Italian bergamot and Succan absolute (an ultra-purified co rum extraction), the scent then descends into a deep floral ru heart with notes of jasmine absolute, Turkish rose oil and a he fu fuchsia orchid from the forests of coastal southern Brazil.

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05 02 03

01 06

BEST BEAUTIFYING BALMS FOR WINTER

08 08. Best to give back to your skin… The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter, $26.95 Many cleansers manage to strip your skin of essential moisture while removing your make-up; this nourishing balm melts into your skin and uses a smooth cushioning oil to gently and effectively remove your make-up.

Best balms for your body

With winter fast approaching, it pays to pick a product that packs a bit more of a (nourishing) punch.

09. Best to pamper your body… Decleor Relaxing Balm, $100.

Winter can be a ghastly season, can’t it? I mean, the fashion – that part’s great, but as far as your skin and hair go, it’s as cold as the temperatures the season of chill brings with it.

Allow this calming, moisturising balm to soak into your skin and transport you straight to cloud nine, thanks to a calming blend of luxurious essential oils, such as sandalwood, lavender and patchouli.

It’s for this reason that you need to get ahead with your grooming as soon as autumn hits. This means swapping out your sweet-smelling summer mists and lightweight lotions in favour of beautiful, velvety balms that deliver a hydrating hit deep within your skin and hair follicles. You see, the change in temperatures combined with the drying effects of heaters means that your skin and hair can be sucked dry like a sponge – and it’s up to you to replenish that lost moisture. Take care of yourself as the chilly months set in by stocking up on a series of nourishing balms designed to keep you soft and supple from top to toe.

Best balms for your hair

05. Best nourishing eye balm… Boots Laboratories Optiva Radiance Boosting Eye Balm, $22.

01. Best for nourishing dry strands… Klorane Mango Butter Conditioning Balm, $9.95.

10. Best to treat your muscles and immune system… Endota spa muscle magic clove + mint, $30. Melt away muscle stiff ness while effectively treating your cold. The clove is a natural anaesthetic, meaning it can ease aches and clear a stuff y head.

11. Best for well, everything… Swisspers Aloe Everything Balm, $10.99. A multi-tasking product that can be used as a moisturiser, lip conditioner, cuticle balm, dry patch hydrator, eyebrow sculptor and to soothe sunburn.

Best balms for your hands and feet

Features a gentle yet powerful blend of ingredients that are perfect to use on the delicate eye area and provide a radiant, fresh look.

12. Best for cracked heels… Scholl Eulactol Heel Balm Gold, $9.95.

Best balms for your skin

Works to banish dry, cracked heels and provide you with baby soft feet in just seven days.

02. Best for making your hair behave… Indola INNOVA Keratin Straight Balm, $17.95.

06. Best to brighten your complexion… Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, $55.

13. Best for dry feet… Weleda Foot Balm, $19.95

Hydrates and protects your hair with a keratin-enriched formula that helps to tame your mane, banish frizz and eliminates the need for heat styling.

Th is nourishing apricot balm is the original complexion perfector. It eliminates any sign of fatigue while providing an immediate boost of radiance to your complexion.

Best balms for your lips and eyes

07. Best to hydrate dry skin… Ella Bache Hydra-Revitalising Repair Balm, $79.

Nourishes and detangles your strands while smoothing dry, split ends and helping to restore your hair’s natural protective barrier.

03. Best tinted lip balm… Maybelline New York Baby Lips Loves Color Lip Balm, $3.95.

An intense repair balm for dehydrated skin that’s riddled with antioxidants and acts like a big drink for your skin. Apply like a generous facemask and then leave to absorb.

Contains nourishing jojoba oil and vitamin E just like the original balms, only with a sheer wash of beautiful colour.

04. Best no-colour lip balm… People for Plants Peppermint and Evening Primrose Lip Balm, $9.95.

Revitalises and refreshes tired, aching feet with a blend of cooling, totally pampering ingredients leaving you with dry feet.

14. Best for chapped hands… L’OCCITANE Shea Butter Hand Cream, $42. Enriched with 20 per cent shea butter, honey and sweet almond extract, this deliciously thick balm is the thirstquenching drink your hands have been waiting for.

Made with love and 96 per cent certified organic ingredients, including omega oils from evening primrose oil, organic beeswax, coconut oil, cocoa butter and rosemary.

09 10

13 words olivia mackinnon 25 Ruby Autumn

ruby loves

saturn timber.

kids furniture octavia.

The unique children’s furniture collections at Forty Winks blend innovative, space-saving functionality with quality, hard-wearing materials to create kids beds you can trust and furniture designs your children will love.

Get a Better Kids Bedroom Choice Is your children’s bedroom furniture in desperate need of a makeover? Has your young one grown out of their bed? With new children’s bedding designs in store now, there’s never been a better time to get a better bed. dakota.

Built to withstand the modern child’s rough and tumble lifestyle, the Forty Winks children’s bedding collections make a welcome, reliable addition to what can often become the most chaotic room in the house. taurus.

nemosuite.

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www.fortywinks.com.au, 118 gheringhap st, geelong, p: 5221 4399 26 Ruby Autumn

ruby money

FEMINSUR E You have a choice

Have a Safety Net A woman’s work is never done… and if you aren’t around or able to do it, who will? Whether you are in income earner, a full time carer or a single parent, or just single, it can be hard to really understand what it would mean for you and the people you love if you became seriously ill or got injured in an accident. But think of it happening to someone else seems to make it easier to understand. Like the case of a single mum, Ellen, who was raising three girls on her own. When her two elder daughters were finishing high school, Ellen became seriously ill and passed away within a few months. Ellen had no life insurance and very little superannuation. The two elder girls became carers and financial providers for their younger sister, who was only in her early teens. But with a mortgage to pay, medical and funeral bills to pay and minimal income, what was already a tough situation became almost unmanageable. The girls had to sell the house, and even then it was still very tough to make ends meet.

Income Protection Business Expenses Trauma Cover Child Cover Total & Permanent Disability Cover Life Cover Superannuation Retirement Planning

Life insurance would not have saved Ellen, but it would have helped ease some of the burden on her daughters. Then there are Tom and Sarah, aged in their early 40s with a big mortgage and three kids, two in primary school and a toddler. Tom works full-time and Sarah takes care of the home and the kids. Most of the couple’s income is chewed up in mortgage, car and living expenses. When Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer, the trauma insurance policy she had as part of her life insurance paid out a lump sum of $200,000. The couple was able to put their mortgage payments two years in advance and keep enough back to cover all the bills. Tom was able to take 6 months unpaid leave to be with Sarah and the kids. Thankfully, Sarah’s cancer treatment was successful. Without the insurance payout, everything would have been much harder. Or Penny, who lives on her own and has a successful career she has worked hard at. She has a beautiful home and a great lifestyle, but when she has a stroke, she can’t return to work. Always a planner, Penny had a life insurance policy in place with trauma cover. The payout allowed her to pay off her mortgage, cover her bills, and put a lump sum away so that all she had to focus on was her recovery. In 2010, a report was released by Lifewise and the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM) found that 95% of Australian families do not have adequate levels of insurance. The report, the Lifewise Underinsurance Report 2010, showed that every day 18 Australian families lose a working parent. The report also showed that every day another 47 families with children face both a health crisis and likely financial hardship until the parents recovers. We protect our homes, our cars and our stuff, but too often we aren’t protecting our and our families’ future if something were to happen to us. feminsure.com.au

Contact Shane Matthews E: shane@feminsure.com.au P: 1300 FEMINSURE (1300 336 467)

www.feminsure.com.au Feminsure and Investinsure Private are registered trading names owned by Investinsure Group Pty Ltd ABN 56 762 085 493 Investinsure Group Pty Ltd and Shane Matthews are authorised representatives of The FinancialLink Group Pty Ltd ABN 12 055 622 967 AFSL No. 240938

27 Ruby Autumn

ruby fashion

HEY! FOUR EYES! I’ve worn glasses since I was 6 years old. I’m guessing I’ve probably had 20 or 30 pairs over the years and let me tell you, there was nowhere near the range back then that there is now. My first pair was the stock standard coke bottle style - black heavy frame with what seemed like half-inch thick lenses. You needed damn good eyes to see through them! I was on the receiving end of many a cruel taunt from the schoolyard bullies - copping all sorts of names from Nerd, Dork, Goggle Eyes, Window Face, Glass Clown and, of course, the old favourite Four Eyes, all thrown at me one time or another. I was a quiet, shy girl and got really upset at the teasing, until one day I’d had enough and decided to stand up for myself. After yet another one of the usual jibes “Hey, Four Eyes!” I quickly shot back with “At least I can take my glasses off, but you’ll always be ugly!” Fits of giggles and laughter erupted by all who heard my reply resulting in one extremely gobsmacked and embarrassed bully. Surprisingly, from that day on, I didn’t get teased at all. It probably wouldn’t be considered politically correct in this day and age but hey, it worked for me and I ran with it. Times have certainly changed and now it’s pretty cool and fashionable for kids to wear glasses. Thanks to genetics, my 10 year-old daughter has similar eyesight problems to me and has always needed glasses. I was pleasantly surprised after her annual eye health examination at Eyewear on Pako to be told that her eyesight has improved and she doesn’t need glasses for the time being - but more than likely will in another year or two when the schoolwork/study will start to increase. My daughter, on the other, hand wasn’t happy at all. While I’d been chatting to the optometrist she’d been busy trying on numerous styles of frames and had already picked out the ones she wanted. “Can’t I get them anyway and just wear them with no lenses in - like Red Foo does?” “Red who? - Fooey to that,” I said.

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Seriously though, if you need glasses for your kids the range at Eyewear on Pako is second to none. The staff are great with the kids and this Four Eyed Nerd wouldn’t go anywhere else. Can your kids say “I wear eyewear from Eyewear on Pako?”

@eyewearonpako words tanya carroll 28 Ruby Autumn

ruby food

Liven up your autumn cooking with the enticing flavours of asia. This month, Darius brings us two glorious seafood recipes that will set your tastebuds alight with delight. The perfect party food, now you have the perfect excuse to call up the girls and have a fabulous night in. Enjoy!

photos biancawhitephotography.com.au

Cunningham Pier (03) 5222 6377 | baveras.com.au reservations@baveras.com.au Visit our website for open hours

Relaxed Dining | Out Over The Water | Enjoy Our New Menu

Enjoy pre or post dinner drinks with friends upstairs in Geelongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most relaxed Lounge Bar - City Quarter Bar

29 Ruby Autumn

ruby food

Pork & prawn soft shell tacos with coriander, lime aioli & pickled jalapenos 1 Tablespoon grated ginger

1 Packet soft tortilla shells

1 Tablespoon crushed garlic

1 Small jar pickled jalapenos

Handful picked coriander leaves

2 Limes

½ Tablespoon Green Peppercorns

Method

2 Spring Onions

Place the garlic, peppercorns, coriander, spring onions, ginger and peanut oil in a blender or food processor and blend ingredients to a smooth paste.

2 Tablespoon peanut oil 150g Pork mince 75g Prawn meat, finely diced 2 Kaffir lime leaves, finely shredded 2 Tablespoon shaved palm sugar 2 Tablespoon fish sauce ½ Iceberg lettuce, shredded

30 Ruby Autumn

Heat a medium size pan over high heat and add the paste, cook for 2 minutes until aromatic. Add the pork mice and prawn meat and cook for a further 5 minutes. Add your lime leaves, fish sauce and palm sugar.

Reduce the heat to medium setting and cook for a few more minutes or until you have a nice sticky coating on the meat. Remove from the pan and set aside. For the aioli, finely chop some coriander and fold it through some mayonnaise, add ½ tsp crushed garlic and the juice of the limes. You can use some store bought mayonnaise or even make you own. Place the tortilla shells, shredded iceberg lettuce, jalapenos and aioli on a nice board and allow your guests or family to construct their own little tacos.

ruby food

CHILLI & LEMONGRASS CRAB 4 Uncooked Blue swimmer crabs 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil 3 Long red chillies 1 Tablespoon crushed garlic 1 Tablespoon finely grated ginger 3 Stalks lemongrass, finely sliced (white part only) Âź Cup tomato sauce Âź Cup sweet chilli sauce 3 Tablespoon shao xing cooking wine 2 Tablespoon kecap Manis Juice of 1 lime 2 Tablespoon shaved palm sugar 4 Stalks spring onions 1 Small bunch coriander leaves picked and washed Method Combine the tomato sauce, sweet chilli sauce, shao xing wine, kecap Manis, lime juice and palm sugar in a bowl. Set aside and allow the palm sugar to dissolve. To clean the crabs, turn crab upside down and lift the tail flap up then grab the base of the shell and lift. Remove and discard the gills and clean crab under cold running water. With a sharp knife split the crab in half. Heat a large wok over high heat and add some oil. Once the wok starts smoking add your crabs and stir-fry for around 10 minutes or until cooked. Add your chilli, lemongrass, ginger, garlic to the wok with the crabs and continue to cook for 1 minute. Pour in your mixture that was set aside and bring to the boil. Cook sauce until it thickens and nicely coats the crabs. Remove crabs from wok and place in a large bowl for serving, finish the dish by adding some sliced spring onions and coriander leaves.

words darius sarkis, baveras 31 Ruby Autumn

ruby travel

anna-marie hughes

32 Ruby Autumn

ruby travel

photo didier descouens, wikicommons.

WHEN THE MOON HITS YOUR EYE LIKE A BIG PIZZA PIE, THAT’S AMORE! THAT’S WHAT DEAN MARTIN SANG AND THAT’S WHAT THE BELL RINGERS OR US

RING

TELLING KNOW

WHEN US

THAT

THE LIFE

THEY’RE TIME, IS

SUMMONING OR

JUST

BEAUTIFUL

reviso is a dear, elegant little town just half an hour from Venice. I came here because my sister told me to. So I did. To babysit with her and to assume our official titles of Nonna/ Grandma (her) and Zia (mine) She arrived in early January and I arrived in late February. It’s a bit funny really; out of the five sisters that comprise our twig of the family tree, she and I are the ‘very married’ ones – we each scored just the one nice husband and we each have kept him and plan to continue to do so. So much so that she just notched up 40 years with her beloved and I’m about to notch up 35 with mine. So, how does one pay homage to all those years of hopping into bed with our respective blokes each night for a cumulative 75 years? That’s right, we abandon them and run away to the other side of the world. As you do. “You aren’t going to go and do a Shirley Valentine on me, are you?’ said mine, ruefully. In hindsight, I could have been more loving and less geographical in my reply: “Oh lordy no, I’m going to be in Italy; Shirley Valentine went to Greece.” So, I’m here in Treviso, Italy, a 20 minute suburban train ride away from Venice … sister had been here since the start of January to be part of the support crew

HERE

CHURCH,

GENERALLY

LETTING

TREVISO,

ITALY.

for her lovely Italian daughter-in-law and nearly-three-year-old granddaughter as they, together with Italian Nonna, all awaited the arrival of the new baby. Sister’s son, my nephew, a.k.a. ‘Dad’, is at home in London for work, and cheap airlines have made it possible for him to pop over whenever possible until they all go home to London at Easter. In February, a beautiful baby girl duly arrived, by Caesarian, and so my sister became ensconced in Grandma duties, and then I duly arrived, by plane. She’d forewarned me that everyone here is slender and there simply are not any clothes shops for the likes of we ‘Taking Shape’ and ‘Autograph’ type ladies. She also warned me to pack light clothes only because, despite this being the most mild winter in Treviso in living memory, everyone resolutely turnzed up the heating in their houses and stubbornly wore padded coats and fur hats. She, on the other hand, was melting. So I brought along light clothes for her and arrived and settled in for what turned out to be a mere 36 hours of hilarious chatter, a soothing lavender oil foot-rub for my poor tired feet that only someone who loves me can do properly - that is, a big sister or a hubby - when we got the phone call from home.

The call was to tell us that her hubby was in an ambulance en route to the Royal Melbourne Hospital after having a severe heart attack. As in, really severe. As in, he was only still with us because he just happened to quietly collapse during a completely spontaneous drop-in visit at his sister’s place. As luck would have it, so too had his sister in law, and she just happens to be a CPR trainer at a major hospital. So, suddenly, my trip became less about Italy and everything about luck, family, travel insurance and the meaning of irony: lucky that my sister wasn’t a widow because instead of going home to the empty house, her hubby went somewhere where a CPR expert kept him alive for 10 minutes until the ambos arrived; after wrangling with a travel insurance claims department for a day, I was able to get her a flight that didn’t involve us forking out 1200 euros in advance; and the irony

33 Ruby Autumn

ruby travel

photo didier descouens, wikicommons.

who I miss more than I can say. I worry and I want to get home to him, just in case he too has a … you know ... I can’t even write it. So, I’m in Italy. I lie in bed in vacant and pensive mood and wonder what secrets these sturdy old walls have held, from what have these gnarled old beams and terracotta roof tiles protected generations of the landlord’s family, who else lived here through all those centuries and what have they seen through these old shuttered windows; did they too have trouble with the internet dropping out all the time here?

was that her flight home to her beloved in ICU just happened to be on the exact day of their 40th wedding anniversary. So, my nice little tale about fun and games in Treviso was suddenly a matter of life and death and everything in between. I can report with much relief that my sister got home and brother-in-law is out of hospital and slowly recovering, I guess I have time to reflect on this marvellous place and think about how incredible it is to be living in an apartment that was built in the 1500s. But right now, all I can think about is a man in Geelong

34 Ruby Autumn

Brother-in-law’s niece and I had never met before Italy, but we are united on our task here. She is the fun cuz, the young thing who plays exuberantly and creatively with her little first-cousin-once-removed, who has been here, too, since January and, agreed to stay on after the family drama. And I have stepped into the role of notquite-Grandma even though I’m plain old Zia – there isn’t a term for Great Auntie – and together, we are great at minding determined toddlers and fractious babies. While I’ve been here for nigh on six weeks, I’ve only made it to Venice once – and, yes, it was amazingly beautiful and vibrant and I am sure I saw George Clooney, too. Yes, really! My Italian language skills are in a word, disgustoso.

(Thank you Google Translate!) But I seem to get myself understood and I definitely understand others, which is due in no small part, I think, to a combination of charades, interpretive dance and the process of elimination. Waving hands does help with linguistic clarity and I am proof that when someone shouts (nicely) at you in Italian you do tend to understand them better: Si, si, ho capito. Sheesh! The Passeggiata is a social ritual, resolutely upheld in Treviso where, most early evenings, but particularly on a Sunday afternoon at 5.00pm or so, seemingly everyone in the place takes to the streets, wearing their Sunday best and they stroll around. The snooty ones look at my RM Williams boots and lack of fur hat and general chubbiness and raise a disapproving eyebrow; the friendly ones smile and chat and I pat their dogs. Everyone has a dog here, always well-dressed in bling collars and little coats, and they accompany their owners everywhere – shops, gelaterias, restaurants, bars. Everyone, bar me, is impeccably dressed, elegant to the point of exhaustion. They all look perfect and nobody is fat. But … I have a theory that there are, indeed, fat people in Treviso. It’s just that they have to stay at home wrapped up in sheets because there are absolutely no shops selling clothes to fit

ruby travel

photo morningfrost, wikicommons.

them. (Remind me to kiss the windows of TS, Target, Myer and any other wonderful local shop in Geelong with a range of Plus sizes.) And part of this shock and awe at the ubiquitous national slenderness is the sheer unfairness of the Italian diet. Everyone eats pasta every day! How can this be? My sister’s daughter-in-law (is she my niece-in-law, I wonder?) is so slender and yet she eats a big bowl of pasta with a good slosh of olive oil and a bit of passata and cheese pretty much every day for lunch. They have risotto and bread and pizza often and they eat chocolate and gelato like there’s no

little specialty African food shop, which caters for the increasing immigration of people from Africa to Italy. There were all manner of strange foods that I didn’t begin to recognise, but there were also Heinz Baked Beans and, astonishingly, Milo. Brother-in-law’s niece’s eyes lit up at the sight of the familiar green tin, so of course, we bought it. There is a market every Tuesday and Saturday outside our building, which stretches for three or four blocks and is so like Victoria Market. We line up at the various food vans and take a ticket from the machine, just like at any deli, and try and decide which fabulous cheese or beautiful fish or

“EVERYONE, BAR ME, IS IMPECCABLY DRESSED, ELEGANT TO THE POINT OF EXHAUSTION. THEY ALL LOOK PERFECT AND NOBODY IS FAT. BUT … I HAVE A THEORY THAT THERE ARE, INDEED, FAT PEOPLE IN TREVISO. IT’S JUST THAT THEY HAVE TO STAY AT HOME WRAPPED UP IN SHEETS BECAUSE THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY NO SHOPS SELLING CLOTHES TO FIT THEM.” tomorrow. Roast meats and big proteiny meals just don’t seem to happen here, not even in restaurants. But, of course, they walk everywhere and they need to look good for the Passeggiata.

cooked chicken will end up on our table today. The salad greens are divine. I don’t know what they do to them here but I want them to do it to them at home.

The supermarkets are a lot like ours in some ways but then again, not. To buy fruit and vegetables, one must don a plastic glove and self serve then weigh it and punch in the code and affix the sticker. I didn’t know this routine when I first arrived and I swear they still point at me at the checkout and mutter about it.

We rush back to be home by 12.30pm in time for the little ones to be babysat. Little-miss-nearly-three-year-old gets quite fierce about the need for routine and order in her life. She tells us off if a bed is unmade. She helps with the washing up and together we make her a pancake with oatbran because all that pasta isn’t very kind to her either.

The other day, we wandered into a tiny

It’s hard to believe that within a week, we

will be done here and brother-in-law’s niece will be on her way to London and then Spain and even Greece. “You’ll be able to drink the wine in the place the grape is grown,” I tell her. She gives me a look. She’s never heard of Shirley Valentine and I can’t recall if it’s a movie that an 18-year-old would find remotely interesting. In terms of gap year travels, she’s had an ‘interesting’ time of it. But she’s a good kid who’s been easy to share a 16th Century apartment with, even if she buys more spotted skirts and stripey tops than anyone I’ve ever known. It’s 6.15 pm on Sunday and the church bells are ringing “That’s Amore!” again, and I laugh at them, as I always do. When I first heard the “Ding ding ding, ding ding ding, ding ding ding, ding ding ding ... “ I thought it was a joke. I haven’t been to Mass here yet, but I imagine the priest at the local “That’s Amore” church is dressed in a tuxedo and smokes a cigar and looks exactly like Dean Martin. I hope so. Next time I write about Italy, I hope it will be a very different tale, one where Shirley Valentine doesn’t even rate a mention. In a bit over a week, a plane is going to land at Tullamarine, and a chubby, middleaged woman is going to walk a bit faster than usual through the Arrivals hall and through those doors, where a graying, middle-aged man will be waiting there and she’s going to hug him like she’s never hugged him before. To everyone there, it won’t be anything special, but to us it will be a reunion to last a lifetime, and a promise that next time I go to Italy, he’ll be there, too, to hear those bells. Now, that’s amore!

words anna-marie hughes 35 Ruby Autumn

ruby travel

WELCOME TO HELLOWORLD! helloworld Geelong West offers an all new travel experience!

elloworld has been creating lasting travel memories for more than forty years through the Harvey World Travel, Jetset Travel, Travelworld and Travelscene American Express brands.

Our mission is to offer Australian travellers unparalleled convenience, industry-leading service and the best value, tailor-made holidays. helloworld lets you plan your trip when and how you want, through our nationwide network of independently owned and operated stores, comprehensive website and friendly and helpful call centre. As passionate and experienced travellers ourselves, we understand what goes into making a great trip and go the extra mile to make sure your next holiday is your best one yet. Your travel plans are in safe hands with helloworld. Harvey World Travel Geelong West recently became helloworld Geelong West– taking everything you’ve always loved about Harvey World Travel and transforming it with an innovative, new travel brand that provides expert service and the best value, tailor-made holidays. At helloworld Geelong West we bring together over 55 years of industry experience and a nationwide network of independently owned and operated stores. Owner Karin Vanner, along with Travel Consultants Lisa Scholfield and Emma Middleton, would like to thank the Geelong community for the continued support they have shown through our many successful years in business as Harvey World Travel and now helloworld Geelong West. “Over the years, many things have changed but our attention to detail, and our desire to look after clients and provide the highest level of service available has been the winning formula. And in Lisa and Emma we have a great team of friendly, knowledgeable and professional consultants,” says Karin. Karin adds that “We realised very early on the importance of treating each and every customer’s travel plans as if they were our own. We also know that one size does not fit all when it comes to the perfect travel solution, so we take the time to tailor-make each and every trip to suit the customer. It really is travel created for you.” “While the name of the business is changing, we will continue to provide the highest levels of personalised service and travel expertise that you have come to expect from our friendly team. helloworld Geelong West is locally-owned and operated and a proud member of a nationwide network that has been creating lasting travel memories for more than forty years,” says Karin. helloworld also offers new flexibility for travellers to take their travel plans home with them and continue their experience, anytime and anywhere, via helloworld.com.au. “helloworld Geelong West will be a one stop travel shop, a place where you can tailor your trip and turn your travel dreams into a reality,” says Karin. “We look forward to seeing you in our new store soon.”

36 Ruby Autumn

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37 Ruby Autumn

ruby wine

Revel in Red this Autumn While the 2014 vintage has just come off the vines, it is the newly released 2012 reds that really has wine lovers talking.

he 2012 growing season was, in the words of Steven Paul from Oakdene, ‘a sensational year – you’re not going to get any better.’ The 2012 Pinots, Shiraz and Cabs are now on shelves, in cellar doors, and appearing on restaurant wine lists, and of all the 2012 reds, it is the Shiraz that rules. Shiraz is the most famous unofficial style of Australian wine, and the Bellarine produces some of the finest Shiraz in the country. The cool climate and fresh sea breezes produce a bright, cool, spicy wine that seems made for autumn. In fact, the Oakdene William Single Vineyard Bellarine Peninsula Shiraz 2012 claimed gold medal at the Sydney Royal Wine Show 2014, alongside a gold for the Oakdene Peta’s Single Vineyard Bellarine Peninsula Pinot Noir 2012. The 2012 Oakdene William Shiraz also claimed Top Gold in its class, Trophy for Best Regional Shiraz and Trophy for Best Regional Wine at the Ballarat Wine Show in September 2013, and again claimed Gold at the Geelong Wine Show in October. No wonder Steve’s so excited about it. “Accepting entries from wines made from across all Australian Wine Regions, the Sydney Royal Wine Show offered us a great opportunity to benchmark our wines with some of the nation’s best,” Steve said “The 2012 growing season produced some fantastic fruit across the board at Oakdene, with our reds benefiting most from a long moderate growing season. “All fruit is hand harvested, and fermented using wild yeast with the addition of 15% whole bunches to enhance perfume and structure, then matured in new and seasoned French oak barriques.” With those autumn mists rolling in, what could be better than a feast of slow-roasted lamb shanks, mushrooms and vegetables served on mashed potatoes with roasted garlic – serve with an outstanding 2012 Bellarine Shiraz. Now that’s what I call the best of the season.

OakdeneVineyards

38 Ruby Autumn

@Oakdenewines

ruby wine

<< OAKDENE WILLIAM SINGLE VINEYARD BELLARINE PENINSULA SHIRAZ 2012

Full-red purple. Highly perfumed red and dark plum notes and spicy bouquet, lifted by the inclusion of some whole bunches in the ferment. Medium to full-bodied palate, with savoury red fruit characters, spice and pepper notes. Firm but fine tannins and well integrated French oak with balanced acidity, and a long savoury finish. 15% whole bunches, wild yeast and matured in new (30%) and seasoned French oak barriques for 16 months.

oakdene.com.au

Restaurant - Cellar Door - Wine Sales - Accommodation - Events - Functions Oakdene Cellar Door: Open 7 days, 10am to 4pm | P (03) 5256 3886 | E cellardoor@oakdene.com.au Oakdene Restaurant: Lunch Wed - Sun, Dinner Wed - Sat | P (03) 5255 1255 | E restaurant@oakdene.com.au 255 Grubb Road, Wallington, Victoria 3222 | www.oakdene.com.au

39 Ruby Autumn

ruby real estate

Looking for the right investment? Looking for an investment property is a major decision. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to make a mistake; after all, you have made a huge financial commitment. You want to be sure that you purchase a property that will attract the right tenant. How you do you know where to buy? Do some research; when we make decisions, we will generally conduct some kind of research ranging from a brand of kitchen kettle to a car that suits our needs, or to the family home. Why should purchasing an investment property be any different? You will need to make a decision on the property type, house or unit, number of bedrooms, garage/carport etc. When you start your research, read the real estate section in the local newspapers and websites, and read the suburb profiles. Have a look at the properties for sale. Keep some statistics on how long properties are staying on the market. Conduct physical research into the area. Drive around the area; seeing really is believing, and have a look at the condition of surrounding properties. Are the gardens neat? Does it look kid-friendly? What facilities are in the area - schools, shops, public transport and parks? Talk to the local real estate agents and ask their opinion, because after all, housing is what they know. Feel comfortable asking what potential tenants are looking for, which suburbs are popular and why? Ask about rental return so that you can make an informed decision on your purchase. And finally, ask yourself this question: would I live in this property? Then you are on the journey to becoming an investor. words gina tobolov, westendrealestate.com.au 40 Ruby Autumn

Cloudburst.

Barfi.

ruby films

From the World to You From the disturbing, to the uplifting, to the uproarious, there is so much to like about the arthouse film. The Bethany Arthouse Film Festival once again as a crackerjack line up of some of the best foreign language and independent films on off er in 2014. Bethany is celebrating 17 years of bringing world class arthouse films to Geelong this year. The festival is the major fundraiser for Bethany – so, not only do you get to enjoy a spectacular cinematic experience, but your tickets are helping provide services to families across our region and across regional Victoria. Screenings are held at The Playhouse, GPAC.

/ The Hunt (Danish with English subtitles) This is a disturbing depiction of how a lie becomes the truth when gossip, doubt and malice are allowed to flourish and ignite a witch-hunt that soon threatens to destroy an innocent man’s life. Lucas is a highly-regarded school teacher who has been forced to start over having overcome a tough divorce. Just as things are starting to go his way, his life is shattered. An untruthful remark throws the small community into a collective state of hysteria. The lie is spreading and Lucas is forced to fight a lonely fight for his life and dignity. Directed by Thomas Vinterberg, this film won the European Film Award for Best Screenwriter, British Independent Film Award for Best Independent Film and a Best Actor Award for Mads Mikkelsen at Cannes in 2012. Starring Mads Mikkelsen, Alexandra Rapaport, Thomas B Larsen and Anika Wedderkopp Tuesday 27 May @ 8pm Rating MA

/ Barfi ! (Indian with English subtitles) Three young people learn that love can neither be defined nor contained by society’s norms of normal and abnormal. Murphy “Barfi” Johnson is an optimistic, streetwise, charming young man who was born deaf-mute. He is known as a troublemaker, is always ready with a prank up his sleeve and he’s quite the charmer, especially with

Fill The Void.

the ladies! His bitter-sweet relationship with two beautiful young ladies, Shruti and Jhilmil sets in motion a chain of events that will turn his life upside down! A heart-warming tale of selfless love and about finding happiness in the smallest things in life. Barfi ! was India’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film for the 85th Academy Awards. Directed by Anurag Basu Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, and Ileana D’Cruz Tuesday 15 July @ 8pm Rating PG

/ Fill The Void (Israeli (Hebrew) with English subtitles) This film tells the story of an Orthodox Hassidic family from Tel Aviv. Eighteen-yearold Shira is the youngest daughter of the family. She is about to be married off to a promising young man of the same age and background - a dream come true. Their marriage is postponed when Shira’s twentyeight-year-old sister, Esther, dies while giving birth to her first child. Their whole world changes when an offer is proposed to match Yochay - the late Esther’s husband - to a widow from Belgium. When the girls’ mother finds out that Yochay may leave the country with her only grandchild, she proposes a match between Shira and the widower. Shira will have to choose between her heart’s wish and her family duty… Winner of seven Israeli Academy Awards,

and a Best Actress award for lead actress Hadas Yaron at the Venice Film Festival. Directed by Rama Burshtein Starring Hadas Yaron, Yiftach Klein, Irit Sheleg, Yael Tal and Renana Raz Tuesday 19 August @ 8pm Rating PG

/ Cloudburst (English) This hilarious movie tells the story of Dot and Stella, a crackerjack lesbian couple on the run from a nursing home. Together for 31 years they have faithfully accompanied one another through life’s ups and downs. Now in their 70’s, Stella is hard of hearing and Dot is legally blind. Dotty’s prudish granddaughter decides the best place for Dot is a nursing home that will provide all the necessities forcing them to make a bold decision. Leave their hometown, make their way to Canada, where same-sex marriage is legal in a last-gasp bid to stay together. En-route to Canada they pick up a young hitchhiker, Prentice, who’s a small-town boy turned modern dancer. Despite his bravado, Prentice is a confused and wounded soul who has much to learn from Stella and Dot. Winner of 22 Best Picture Awards Directed by Thom Fitzgerald Starring Olympia Dukakis, Brenda Fricker, Ryan Doucette and Kristin Booth Tuesday 16 September @ 8pm Rating MA - very course language

tickets are available from gpac, gpac.org.au 41 Ruby Autumn

ruby beauty

FROM BELLY TO BOOBS Losing one or both breasts to cancer is in many cases a lifesaving surgery. With the recent understanding of the link between mutations in the BRCA genes and hereditary cancer, more women may elect to have a preventative mastectomy in the future. For most women, mastectomy is followed – either at the time, soon after, or sometimes years after, by reconstruction. Breast reconstruction techniques have evolved from prosthesis, to implant, to reconstruction, and one of the most recently developed methods of reconstruction uses the woman’s own tissue removed from the abdomen (that’s right, a tummy tuck) which is formed into a new breast or breasts. While the idea of having a certain amount of fat removed from your stomach area – or having to pig out on pizza or doughnuts to build up enough abdominal fat for the surgery – has its appeal, the real advantages of this procedure come with time. Because the tissue used is very similar to breast tissue and is the woman’s own tissue, it ages as the body ages, so no need to go in for additional implant surgeries. It looks, behaves and ages in the way that breast tissue looks, behaves and ages. I spoke to Plastic Surgeon, Rafael Acosta,

42 Ruby Autumn

from Australian Skin Face Body, who was operating in Sweden when the procedure was developed and was part of a team of surgeons who further developed the procedure into what it is today. “Breast reconstruction using your own tissue started in the 80s in Sweden, with the first reconstruction of a breast using tissue taken from the lower abdomen,” Mr Acosta said. Those early surgeries used muscle rather than fat, and while popular, had a 10% risk of patients developing a hernia. In the mid-1990s, the current technique of forming the new breast from the skin and fat of the abdomen without removing muscle tissue was developed. “Breast tissue is only skin and fat and the gland. The gland is what caused the cancer, so if you take the gland out of the equation, what you’re left with is skin and fat. The most like type of skin and fat that we have in the body for the breast is the abdomen, because like any other mammal, our breast line actually extends from the chest to the groin,” Mr Acosta said.

This new method of reconstruction, known as a DIEP flap with abdominoplasty, meant that the all-important vessels that would carry the blood supply to the newly reconstructed breast could be taken from the abdomen without removing any muscle, which reduced complications. The downside came with how long the surgery took. Every patient is different and the surgeons had no way of knowing prior to operating where the vessels went or which would be the most viable vessels to use, or even if the patient was a suitable candidate for the procedure, which meant surgery times extended to an average of about 8 hours. In the mid-2000s, doctors in Spain started using CT Angiograms to try to map the vessels prior to surgery. The practice was another step forward, but only provided a 2 dimensional view. What surgeons really needed was a way to view inside the muscle, and along the vessels, to see exactly where they went and the size of the vessels. “There was a program that the company

ruby beauty was giving with the CT machine that wasn’t being used, and we were in a meeting when we were shown how to take a 3D image of the whole area, and that we could see through the muscle and actually navigate into the vessel itself. With this, not only did we know where to cut and how to cut, but we could see which patients we could do this with successfully – and that’s probably the most important thing,” he said. I was amazed to learn that the CT program that allows for the navigation around and through vessels was actually based on the software program used for a scene in one

candidates for a DIEP flap reconstruction, depending on the available vessels. He estimates between 90 and 95 per cent of mastectomy patients would be candidates for this type of reconstruction, but said that not all will want to undergo the procedure, and he stressed that patients being able to have that choice is a very good thing. “The good thing about living in this time is that the options are so varied and everyone gets the opportunity to decide for themselves.” Post-mastectomy, some women choose not to undergo a reconstruction, some will chose implants with the understanding

“The good thing about living in this time is that the options are so varied and everyone gets the opportunity to decide for themselves.”

of the original Star Wars movies – inspired by Luke Skywalker’s flight through the narrow walls of the Death Star. “This technology meant we could make a better plan for the surgery and actually know how long the surgery should take. With this in place, we started doing two of these cases a day, while most hospitals could only schedule one – not because we were better surgeons or better at this procedure necessarily, but because we weren’t wasting time looking for vessels. We were going into surgeries with a plan.” Mr Acosta said not all patients are good

that implants will require further implant surgeries over the years, and others will chose to have a reconstruction using their own tissue. Patients can undergo both mastectomy and reconstruction in the one surgery, but this is dependent on the patient’s condition and cancer treatment plan, and on their emotional wellbeing at the time. Mr Acosta showed me the example of one patient, who had undergone a unilateral mastectomy many years previously to remove one breast and came to have the breast reconstructed recently. While the

breasts appeared uneven initially after the reconstruction, once the swelling had subsided and over the course of a year, the reconstructed breast was extraordinarily similar to the woman’s remaining breast, doing what middle-aged breasts naturally do (i.e. sag!). These weren’t the under the chin implants with folds of sagging skin that can be seen in the years following implant surgeries, these looked just like normal breasts. Another patient that stands out in Mr Acosta’s memory was a reconstruction he performed in Sweden. The young mother was also a model, and the surgery was so effective that she went back to underwear and swimsuit modelling – you would never know she had undergone a mastectomy. But, as with all surgeries, there are risks to breast reconstruction and not everyone will get a perfect outcome; however, the development of the CT Angio scans and vessel mapping has greatly minimised complications from the surgery. Not all plastic surgeons perform this surgery, however it is becoming increasingly common in Australia (it has seen a much faster and wider take up in Europe) and is available to patients both in the private and public health systems. Mr Acosta is working with a number of local healthcare providers and surgeons on making the procedure more widely available.

words davina montgomery

• Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery • Hand Surgery • Laser Hair Removal • Tattoo Removal • Fillers & Injectables • INFINI Skin Tightening • Skin Cancer & Mole Checks (No Referral Necessary)

Australian Skin Face Body 50 Western Beach Road, Geelong Telephone 5221 2238 www.asfb.com.au AusSkinFaceBody

We also offer treatments for: facial pigmentation, ﬁne lines & wrinkles, acne & acne scarring and specialised skin conditions. 43 Ruby Autumn

ruby spotlight

MUMS IN SCHOOLS Living in Geelong’s northern suburbs, Dianne Pont is a single mum on a mission to get more mums back into volunteering at schools and in the classroom.

or the past five years, Dianne has had to wrangle her way through the Centrelink system so that she can continue to volunteer time at her kids’ school. For all of those five years, Centrelink classified Dianne as unemployed, even though she had a casual role at the school for 15 hours a week and, as well as volunteering at the school, and was studying. Until separating from her partner in 2009, Dianne had no idea how demeaning and demoralising the Centrelink system could be. But without her partner’s income, Dianne couldn’t afford to maintain a home for her and her two children – then aged 11 and 13 – on her casual wage. She had to apply for welfare payments. “I had a job, I was volunteering and I was studying, so I thought I’d ticked all the boxes. I called Centrelink and was told that I needed at least 15 hours of either volunteering or studying and I was more than meeting that. But then I was told that my work didn’t count because I was working as a casual in a school, and for it to be counted that work needs to be ongoing for 13 weeks, which is longer than a school term.” Dianne was working 10 hours each week of term in administration and 5 hours as a parent and community liaison officer at Northern Bay Secondary College, and volunteered additional hours in her parent and community liaison role because she believed that even though it was a small role in the school, it was also an important one. At the same time she was studying for a Diploma of Community Services Work. Another loop created by the system is that to volunteer in schools, you have to be covered by insurance – either under the school’s policy, or by Centrelink or by a volunteering program with suitable insurance. The Victorian Department of Education’s

44 Ruby Autumn

ruby spotlight School Policy and Advisory Guide provides guidelines on voluntary work in schools. The guidelines state that people doing unpaid work in schools under Centrelink’s Work for the Dole and Community Work programmes are covered by government insurance.

kids were or what they were doing. And I still feel like I’m treading water, trying to balance doing enough work to keep the home going and still being able to spend time with the kids.”

Other people receiving Centrelink benefits that do voluntary work to fulfil their welfare obligations are not covered by an Australian Government insurance scheme, and as such, are not insured to work in Victorian government schools. Add to that the need to always be on call to Centrelink and we have arrived at a situation that makes it very difficult for parents on welfare to commit to volunteering at schools. And while this is an issue for all government schools in all areas, the impact is felt significantly more in schools in low socioeconomic status (SES) areas. Dianne says volunteering in schools should be recognised as approved volunteering by Centrelink. Currently, in individual cases, volunteering in schools can approved by Centrelink, but only if the volunteering

Federal Member for Corio, Richard Marles MP said, “We should be making it easier for mums and dads to volunteer at local schools. “Spending time volunteering at a local school provides parents with the opportunity of doing more than just offering a helping hand. It gives parents and their kids the chance to spend quality time together. “I support having this volunteering recognised by Centrelink.” Federal Member for Corangamite, Sarah Henderson MP said, “Volunteering is so important in our community and is something that should be encouraged at every level. Volunteers do such great work across our region, including in our school communities. “It’s obviously wonderful to see parents contributing to their children’s school. I welcome a conversation about how this involvement can be better supported.”

“IT COMES BACK TO NOT VALUING THE CARER. WE’RE NOT ASKING TO BE PAID FOR IT - WE JUST DON’T WANT TO BE PUNISHED FOR IT

DOING

CAN

IT.

THE

VERY

SYSTEM

JUST

DEMORALISING

activity could directly help the parent gain employment. This is short-term box ticking for long-term pain. Schools are the hub of social change in communities, and there is no group that should be encouraged more to became actively involved in their kids’ education than parents on unemployment benefits. Everyone knows that education is a key factor in breaking the welfare and unemployment cycle. It’s not hard to see the connections: having parents actively involved at school helps their kids to have a better education outcome; and a better education outcome helps kids towards building a career. These are multigenerational benefits. Instead, we have a bureaucratic tangle with very real downsides for parents, for children and for schools. “It comes back to not valuing the carer. We’re not asking to be paid for it - we just don’t want to be punished for doing it. The system just puts in roadblocks and it can be very demoralising and really, really tiring,” Dianne said. “It would have been much easier to get a full-time job and just not know where my

PUTS AND

ROADBLOCKS

REALLY,

REALLY

AND

TIRING,”

In following this story, I also contacted the Victorian Minister for Education, both Labor and Liberal state members and candidates, the Federal Department of Human Services, the Federal Department of Education, the Federal Department of Social Services, the Federal Department of Employment and then back to the Department of Education, to no avail. None could offer a justification for the blocking of parents on Centrelink benefits from volunteering in schools. Yet the Federal Government has a program, led by a national Taskforce, titled ‘Parental Engagement in Schooling in Low Socioeconomic Status (Low SES) Communities’. The project is designed to do exactly what Dianne is talking about – to get more parents in Low SES communities involved in their children’s schooling. Unless you’ve experienced it, it can be hard to understand the frustration of being caught in a system that says one thing, but does another. Dianne explained, “I was on the other side of the fence. I was partnered and I only had to work the hours

that I wanted to; and until I separated from my partner in 2009 I didn’t understand how hard it is. “I get to feel like an adult in my work, when I’m volunteering and in my social life, right up to when I get in contact with the welfare system. Getting told to brush my teeth and dress nicely, or getting told to do a Certificate 1 in hospitality even though I’ve told them I now have a Diploma in Community Services Work... I’ve done all the right things and it’s just so demeaning. This is all because on the screen at Centrelink it comes up that I’m long-term unemployed because of those five years.” Dianne has recently taken up a part-time position as a School Chaplain at Northern Bay, and is now in a position to be able to do something to support other mums caught in the situation she has been in. She told me about a program that is giving new parents to the school a more in-depth understanding of how the school system works. “We find out what these parents need to know and give them as much information and support as we can. That can include things like how to read to your child and a whole lot of other ways of supporting children at school. “So much of what new school parents hear is eduspeak – if you don’t work in education, it’s hard to understand - so this program is all about more experienced school mums helping mums who are new to the system.” Northern Bay Secondary College Executive Principal, Fred Clarke, says that when parents are involved in schools, it is generally the case that their children do better at school and any issues at school are more easily dealt with. But Fred has seen that family involvement in school can also help boost the self-esteem and confidence of parents on welfare benefits. “If you’re in that spiral where you’re constantly being knocked back while trying to find a job, that can be just so demoralising. So to actually be a part of a school and to feel welcome in a school, and to feel that you’re actually contributing in some way… If people don’t feel like they’re making a worthwhile contribution, then that creates costs for the government in the long run.” Fred also pointed out that for many parents trapped in the welfare cycle, their own experiences at school were far from positive. That negativity is then passed on to their kids. He has also seen how forming new and positive relationships between parents and schools can break through that cycle.

words davina montgomery 45 Ruby Autumn

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he popularity of lifestyle programs such as “The Block” and “Selling Houses Australia” shows that as Australians we are a house-proud bunch and our homes really are our castles. These shows have also highlighted to me just how much choice we do have now when it comes to selecting anything for our homes. It’s actually quite tiring sometimes having too many choices, so how can we simplify all of that and make it easier?

My tip is to try to establish your own set of priorities. Often for most of us budget will be one of the top things, but what else do you need to consider? How long do you think you will live in your current home? If you plan on staying for a long time, it’s often worth paying more for better quality. Selecting the right blinds or window coverings can really put a finishing touch on a room. Helping people select colours and designs for their homes is one of the best parts of my job. When I get asked what I would have in my own home – I have to admit that I like to keep it simple. Using a neutral colour palate is timeless, and means things won’t go out of date as quickly. When choosing larger ticket item, likes curtains and blinds, it is best to play it safe, as they are not items that you change often – unlike bed linen or cushions, so I like to stick with neutrals and add accent colours with accessories. Controlling light and heat are also big things to consider – do you like it really dark to sleep better? Curtains and blinds that fi t well will also help insulate your home – keeping warmth in in winter and helping reduce heat gain in summer. There are many different options for blinds – and some provide better insulation than others, so I would suggest you do some research to make sure what you are buying will do what you need or would like it to achieve. At “Brax” we have an extensive range, from budget priced to more luxurious. As a starting point, we encourage people to visit our showroom as we have large full sized blinds on display, so you can touch and see how things work before you buy. Our staff are on hand to tell you about the different styles available and to answer any questions you may have. All of our products are made to measure, so the next step is to make a time for one of our experienced consultants to visit your home to help select colours and confirm all of your sizes to enable us to provide an accurate quote. All of this is part of our obligation free service. Once you have made your decision, we usually need to allow around four weeks for manufacture. This may vary depending on what you have chosen, but many of our products are made here in Australia, with Brax manufacturing a number of products locally in our South Geelong factory. Some of our imported products do take a bit longer. Once your products are ready for installation, we will contact you and arrange a time for our installers to come out and finish things off. Our installation team has many years of experience and are all police checked for your peace of mind. Put the finishing touch on your home – with quality blinds and curtains from “Brax”.

We are proudly a family owned and operated business, servicing Geelong and district for over 71 years. We invite you to visit our showroom today – 332 Pakington St, Newtown.

ruby health

THE VALUE OF LISTENING UNDERSTANDING DEPRESSION & ANXIETY IN MEN No matter how happy a man looks from the outside, whether he’s famous or only known to a few of us, he can be secretly living with a demon called depression, unable to talk about his struggles.

he big reason we don’t know so many of these stories are because men can feel like they have to hide their feelings, or think they can just shake them off.

Even worse, some believe they’re being a burden by expressing their concerns. But if we don’t know that a man we care about is suffering from depression or anxiety and what they are struggling with, it can be incredibly difficult to know how to give support as a carer. Mental health disorders are extraordinarily prevalent, with almost half of the Australian population, 45.5 per cent according to the Mental Health Council of Australia, experiencing a mental health disorder in their lifetime. Depression and anxiety disorders are the most prevalent of the mental health disorders and depression alone is predicted to be one of the world’s largest health problems by 2020. Today, one million Australians are living with depression or anxiety. Of particular concern is that most people with depression, anxiety or other mental health disorders – around two thirds, in fact – don’t access health services to help manage their disorder. According to beyondblue, suicide is the leading cause of death in men aged under 45 and in women aged under 35 years. Mindframe also says men are less likely than women to reach out to support services.

48 Ruby Autumn

Simon Hogan in his playing days with Geelong.

VOICES OF EXPERIENCE SIMON’S STORY There’s no immunity from depression, no matter how old, successful or busy you are. It’s the type of illness that can get the better of anyone and Simon Hogan knows all about this. When I meet the 25 year-old, the first thing I notice about him is his smile. It’s hard to imagine from the exterior what this guy has been through. Hogan played AFL for the Geelong Cats during 2007 to 2012 and lived with depression at points during this period. Before his diagnosis, he believed his lethargy, inability to perform on the footy ground and day-to-day stress was physically driven. It was only when he spoke to the footy club’s doctor that he realised it might be a psychological issue.

“It wasn’t until I realised I really needed some help, that I couldn’t actually train, and that it wasn’t actually good for me to try and push myself through this barrier anymore, that I had to try and tell a few other people.” He also found many of his relationships within the club strengthened as his illness became public to his teammates. “It was quite reassuring of my spot in the group as a team mate, which is so much more important than worrying what they think of me as a footballer. It was a very humbling and positive experience and enriched a lot of the relationships that I have with people. “The hardest part was telling my parents, my girlfriend and my close mates,” but these

at the time working as a nurse, gave Simon immense support during his tough time. “I probably went to her the most. I remember going to her place after I trained and I just really wanted to spend time with her as I found her incredibly empathetic and understanding. Just being there for me to cry, for me to not think about what’s wrong with the situation but to take it as it is… she was incredibly supportive. “As a male it’s so hard to put your hand up and say I need help, but to do that, it’s an incredibly positive experience. I don’t think there’s anything else that would quite compare in terms of bringing people closer together and if you show a bit of vulnerability

“I TRIED TO HOLD ON FOR AS LONG AS I COULD, BEING THE MALE

“I was probably a bit dismissive of that at the time, but it made sense,” he adds.

THING TO DO - THINKING I COULD GET THROUGH THIS AND IT

Simon tells me he hit rock bottom pretty fast in 2009 around the footy pre-season and the thought of having depression really scared him. He has had four major episodes; each falling around the March-April time, which he realised early on is also around that preseason period.

WOULD PASS.” SIMON ADMITS IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REALISE THAT

“When my thoughts were getting really bad it was about not being caught out as a fraud, or not belonging there. That was incredibly hard to deal with at that elite level.” While he struggled to finally tell the club, he says that when he did they were very supportive. “I tried to hold on for as long as I could, being the male thing to do - thinking I could get through this and it would pass.” Simon admits it was difficult to realise that footy wasn’t bringing him the happiness he wanted it to.

FOOTY WASN’T BRINGING HIM THE HAPPINESS HE WANTED IT TO.” people, as his carers, have given him the most support. “Once those really important people in my life knew, it didn’t matter so much who else knew, that’s why I’ve been so open.” Simon’s girlfriend, Kate, has been there from day one. “It was quite ridiculously amazing how well she handled it, given our 6-month relationship at that stage. I remember trying to break up with her a couple of times,” he says through a laugh. “If I was having such negative thoughts about myself, I thought she had to be lying to me to want to stick around. But she was adamant; it was great resilience.” His eldest sister, Anna, who was in Geelong

to someone else, whether it’s a family member, close mate or psychologist, what you get back from that person will amaze you,” Hogan tells me. Simon tells me of a dark period where his suicidal thoughts nearly got the better of him. “It’s an incredibly hard thing to empathise with when you haven’t been there, and I hope no one gets there who hasn’t been there already.” He takes a minute to collect his thoughts and looks at me candidly. ”It’s an absolutely tragic thing that occurs. I’m just very grateful that I held onto something, or I got distracted, to sort of click me back to as close to reality and I could get at that stage. That might have been a phone call

49 Ruby Autumn

ruby health from a mate, or someone coming home, or a thought of something that did make me happy. Those little things brought me out of that daze that you can get in.” Hogan says he is feeling great now and he tells me this with confidence. But at the same time he doesn’t want to get ahead of himself, especially at this time of the year. He now works at Headspace in Melbourne a few days a week, while studying a Bachelor of Science at Melbourne University majoring in psychology.

TONY’S STORY Fifty-one year-old Tony McManus, who is also my dad, has dealt with depression since 2004. He recently sold his real estate business and what makes his story happy is how he spends his days now. He travels around Victoria and nationwide speaking to groups to help those struggling with depression. He does this through his own consulting business and also as a national ambassador for beyondblue. Dad experienced the pain first hand when

He tells me the hardest period for him was when Mick took his own life. “I felt the burden of the responsibility of the business and I didn’t really want to come out and say how I was going close to the time that Mick had taken his own life.” He also felt the pressure of being strong for his family, being the only male in his household with a wife and two daughters. “I didn’t want to upset the people who were relying on me.”

“THAT

GAVE

HELP

BEYONDBLUE

ABOUT ESTATE

REALLY

DEPRESSION.” TO

ACHIEVE

AWARENESS

MENTAL

THE

He tells me the common reaction for a male when struggling is to go into his ‘man cave’, whether this is a literal one - like a shed or garage - or a psychological one. Either way, no matter what support is out there, this can make the sufferer feel incredibly isolated. So alternatively, a bloke could invite a mate over to his man cave to have a chat, which is making something positive out of something earlier perceived to be negative. Of course, Tony has his own man cave, and highly recommends any male to follow suit.

POSITIVE

AND

ITS

HEALTH

“That gave me a really positive point of focus, to help beyondblue achieve its twin objectives of increasing awareness and reducing the stigmas about depression.” The decision to move from real estate to mental health advocacy was simple – he wanted to have the time to tell his story and couldn’t manage it running his business too. “I was becoming more stimulated and inspired to get out and help others in the area of health and well-being. So that was an interest that gradually overtook the passion that I had in the real estate business.” To sum it up, his presentation is a mix of personal experiences, anecdotes, stories and interesting facts he’s picked up along the way. His audiences are a combination of just males, just females and mixed audiences. “I’ve derived a good feeling of

POINT TWIN

FOCUS,

OBJECTIVES

REDUCING

DECISION

The inspiration for his mental health presentations came from someone close to home: Mick’s widow, Jenny, who wanted to support organisations like beyondblue to help increase awareness.

50 Ruby Autumn

His talks focus on a big struggle many males face – communication. “It’s directly aimed at breaking the stereotype that blokes can’t be soft. It’s really important just to get it out there in the open and talk about it. That will be the first step in recovery and dealing with the issue.”

“I’ve had a lot of advice, treatment and medication and learnt a lot about the issue, so it still comes and goes a bit for me, but I’m very comfortable that it’s manageable and under control as we speak. My feelings are much better, positive and I get a lot of feedback from other people about being a much happier and outgoing person than I was.”

INCREASING

Tony McManus.

my own worth by sharing my story with other people,” he says. Through speaking out, he’s found other people have also reached out to him or other people in their lives for support.

his brother, Mick, took his own life in 2005. He also understands the illness personally from his own dark days. Tony has had every difficult combination in the book when it comes to depression, but tells me right now he’s better than he’s ever been before.

THE

MOVE

ADVOCACY

STIGMAS

FROM

WAS

REAL

SIMPLE...”

Mentoring is another coping mechanism he’s found success in. “Someone who’s been very inspirational and supportive to me through my ups and downs is Cathy Roth, a well-regarded local businesswoman. She has been there as a sounding board and a particularly interesting mentor.” He also believes mentoring can work two ways. “She gives and I also try and give back to her and help her with her endeavours… the best exercise you can do is to help someone who’s down get up.” Tony says that as a carer, listening is a huge part of the support. “It just facilitates the issue of halving the problem by letting the person share it with someone else. A carer is not expected to fi x the problem, but help the person who is struggling to be guided through the recovery process. “The most critical thing is getting back to your own lifestyle. Once you’ve had the medical intervention and professional help, nothing beats the importance of assessing your lifestyle and making sure you’ve got a bit of focus on work/life balance.”

ruby health

HOW TO COPE WITH AN EVERYDAY ILLNESS

linical psychologist, Simon Rice, explains some of the problems men face while living with depression.

“Some men find it a lot more difficult to reach out for the support that is available,” due to socialisation, and perceptions of masculinity, being in control and avoiding vulnerability. He tells me how important it is to normalise symptoms of depression and anxiety. “Getting help for something like depression is really contradictory to a lot of the norms around what it is to be a bloke in Australia… it’s really important that we gain access to more and more role models, that we make our services better and that we encourage men to get help whenever they are going through some difficult times,” Rice says. Psychologist, Sabina Read, believes the focus for depression should be more on the individuals themselves, as opposed to stereotyping the symptoms specifically to males or females, saying, “There’s more alike between men and women with depression than there is difference between men and women with depression.” Read believes each personal experience should be addressed first to know how to effectively give support. “I am less interested in clinical diagnoses and labels and more interested in how that impedes one’s functioning.” She says symptoms of depression can be difficult to make sense of yourself, let alone

to be able to explain to a friend or a third party. “It’s so prevalent in our society and the more we can talk about it the more it normalises this condition that is affecting most families.” To feel connected, understood and to have a sense of belonging are imperative to those living with depression. “Don’t give up sharing and trying to express your experiences and your struggles, because usually a loved one is desperate to help and they don’t know how.” For someone dealing with depression she offers this advice: “Understand that it’s difficult for those around you who haven’t walked in your shoes to understand, but 99.9 per cent of them will be trying.” Read tells me that having resilience and perseverance are fundamental as a carer. “Keep knocking on the door, because an initial reaction isn’t always indicative of where someone’s at.”

Carers need to remember their role isn’t to cure the illness; it’s to give support. “Even the most caring and dedicated loved ones can’t undo depression instantaneously. But they can help someone who is dealing with depression to feel like their experience is valid. “As a carer it’s important to look out for your own well being too because unless you fill up your own cup, you’re pretty useless to someone else.” Rice also shares this same view. “It can be really stressful for carers and we often underestimate that,” he says. “Sometimes no matter how well meaning and well intentioned you are as a loved one, it heeds to seek professional advice, either for you or the person dealing with the challenges,” Read says. It’s clear that living with depression is incredibly prevalent in our society. To help manage this mental illness there are three important points to remember.

Listening is another crucial aspect: “When you inquire about someone’s well-being or where they’re at - listen not with a view to speaking, but with a view to understanding.

• Practising the right kind of listening.

“No one expects an answer; people just need to feel like someone is hearing them. It’s all we all want, for any issue, whether it’s clinically diagnosed or not, is to be understood. For our position and our perspective to be validated most often is enough.”

Hogan and McManus, who are successfully managing their depression, agree it’s fundamental to let your guard down and feel the emotions your body is experiencing in order to recover. They both say that support from carers and speaking out has also been paramount to their successful recoveries.

• Having effective communication. • Advocate a healthy lifestyle.

words ally mcmanus

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51 Ruby Autumn

ruby catch up

Days for Girls Geelong now has its own Days for Girls chapter working to supply sustainable sanitary kits to girls who would otherwise miss out on school for lack of suitable personal hygiene products (as discussed in Ruby Summer, chicken feathers, stones and cow dung are poor alternatives to pads and tampons, but for too many girls around the world it’s either that or stay home from school and miss out on vital education). Geelong Coast Days for Girls began last July in response to a newspaper article and has since provided kits, sewn by women all over Victoria, for girls in Nepal and East Timor. “We intend to send as many kits as we can to girls all around the world,” says co-organiser Karen Harding.

“Every kit we make will last a girl for three years and that inspires us to make more kits.” Founded in 2008 to address the sad fact that simple biology – namely menstruating – means girls in some parts of the world miss up to eight months of schooling in three years because of a lack of sanitary supplies, Days for Girls International organises groups of women and men around the world to provide sustainable, reusable, discreet sanitary kits to help keep girls in school and therefore provide a way out of poverty. Geelong Coast Days for Girls holds local workshops to create the bags, shields and liners that make up part of the sanitary kits. Those who can’t sew can still help

words judy baulch 52 Ruby Autumn

with donations of brightly coloured quilters cotton fabric and quilters cotton flannelette fabric, brightly coloured face washers and underwear, small hotel sized soap and large zip lock bags. Workshops are held monthly at the Springdale Neighbourhood Centre in Drysdale, and in Geelong at the Eastern Geelong Community Centre. All are welcome; if you can sew, trace around a pattern or use a pair of scissors then you can help! For workshop dates and times, or for more information, phone Diane on 0400712829 or Karen on 0439 332 819, email geelongcoast@daysforgirls.org, like Geelong Coast Days For Girls on Facebook or visit www.daysforgirls.org.

ruby catch up

Now I See Ruby Summer also featured the story of long-time friends Angela Blakston and Carolyn McDiarmid, who found out within six months of each other that their sons Gabe and Clem would be born with Down syndrome. Discovering there were few local resources for families in their situation, Angela and Carolyn set about establishing Now I See, a not for profit project aiming to inform parents of children with Down syndrome, their extended families, friends and health professionals about life with Down syndrome. After much hard work, fundraising and some setbacks, the book Now I See, with its collection of 50 stories covering the joy, heartbreak and everydayness of living with Down syndrome, was launched in March and is available to buy from nowisee.com.au. Proceeds will be used to print more books so that free copies can be given to new parents of children with Down syndrome and health professionals.

ruby business

Championing Gender Diversity Getting more women in senior leadership roles starts with every manager understanding how they cast their Leadership Shadow. This is the message being driven by Chief Executive Women and Male Champions of Change. Chief Executive Women represents 300 of the country’s most senior women leaders, and has partnered with 21 Males of Change, a group developed through the Office of the Sex Discrimination Minister, in developing the free management model, ‘The Leadership Shadow’, which guides leaders who want their every action to send the right signal around gender diversity. While no-one disputes the need to boost the number of women in senior roles, few leaders understand how to create an organisational culture that values, nurtures and attracts talented female executives. The question most leaders ask is “Where do I start?” Christine Christian, President of Chief Executive Women, said, “The Leadership Shadow model we have created together is a wonderful resource for every leader in the country. One size does not fi t all, we know. But the most effective approaches start with leaders reflecting on the impact of their actions, behaviours and decisions. “I am particularly delighted that the Male Champions of Change understand the power of partnering with women leaders who have lived and breathed the long journey to achieving gender equity.”

Simon Rothery, CEO of Goldman Sachs and a Male Champion of Change, said, “The Leadership Shadow is a simple but effective means of helping every leader become a champion of gender diversity. It helps them think through how they can become the leader they need to be and bring about real change in an organisation. It takes them through four key questions: what I say; how I act; what I prioritise; how I measure. Being able to tap into the personal experiences of some of most powerful women in the country has been an invaluable learning experience for our group.” Kathryn Fagg, a member of the Reserve Bank of Australia board and the driver of CEW’s Leadership Shadow development work, said, “As Chief Executive Women, we brought to the partnership with Male Champions of Change our real life experience of what it’s like to be a woman leader and what is required to achieve positive change.” The Leadership Shadow is available as a free resource at www.cew.org.au and humanrights.gov.au/male-champions-change.

photos cathy satre 53 Ruby Autumn

ruby arts

To win a Double Pass to THE KING & I, coming to Melbourne this winter, send me an email at davina@adcellgroup.com.au and tell me why you deserve to be treated like a Queen and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to include your contact details.

photos joan marcus 54 Ruby Autumn

THE SMASH HIT AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION RETURNS! The worldwide sensation returns to where it all began, with THE KING & I returning to Melbourne this June. For performance times, ticket prices and booking, please visit thekingandimusical.com.au, ticketmaster.com.au or call 1300 889 278.

ring on the bling girls, THE KING & I will reign supreme at the Princess Theatre this winter in a lavish, luscious modern production of the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic presented by Opera Australia and John Frost.

Hailed as ‘The most ravishing show you ever see on Broadway’ when it opened in 1996, this multi-award winning production of THE KING & I was created in Australia and then conquered Broadway and London before touring the US and the UK. It is a story of love and joy, set to one of the most glorious, unforgettable scores ever written, including Shall We Dance, I Whistle A Happy Tune, Hello Young Lovers, Getting To Know You, I Have Dreamed and Something Wonderful. For decades, THE KING & I captivated millions with its delightful story of English governess, Anna Leonowens, brought to the court of Siam as tutor to the King’s children. This is a dazzling musical celebration, a sumptuous production with stunning scenery and magnificent costumes… Oh, it’s good to be the King! THE KING & I returns to Australia with the first lady of Australian musical theatre, Lisa McCune – hot on the heels of her stellar performance in John Frost’s production of South Pacific, and international stage and screen star Jason Scott Lee as the King of Siam for the Melbourne season only. McCune will reunite with baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes for the Brisbane and Sydney seasons. This is not the first time Jason Scott Lee has played the role of the King in The King & I. He performed the part to great acclaim in John Frost’s West End production at the London Palladium in 2000-2001 opposite Elaine Paige. A triple crown award winning production: claiming The Tony, the Drama Desk and the Outer Critics Circle for Best Musical Revival, this dazzling show is a lavish and triumphant fresh new look at a time honoured classic. The King & I was Rodgers and Hammerstein’s fifth musical together and is considered one of the jewels in their crown. It was based on Margaret Landon’s 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam, which took its inspiration from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, a British governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam (now Thailand) in the early 1860s. A hit on Broadway in 1951, where it starred Gertrude Lawrence (who died during the season) and Yul Brynner, the show ran for three years before touring. The first London production opened in 1953, enjoying similar success. In 1956 it became a famous film starring Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner, who won an Academy Award for his performance.

thekingandimusical.com.au 55 Ruby Autumn

ruby socialites

Teeing off for Charity A field of 60 ladies of all golfing abilities teed off in the name of charity with the lucky winners, Susan Downey, Louise McDonald, Jenny McIntrye & Michelle McKenzie taking home diamond earrings courtesy of Naming Rights Sponsor, Duffs Jewellers. The Duffs Jewellers Diamond Golf Classic was not only a wonderful day spent with friends but also helped empower women in our community. Building community awareness of the work being undertaken to assist vulnerable women in the Geelong region, the inaugural Duffs Jewellers Diamond Golf Classic was held on Thursday 27 March at 13th Beach Golf Links, Barwon Heads.

The event now in its 2nd year raised valuable funds for premier Geelong philanthropic organisation, Give Where You Live. Following the 9 hole golf event, 100 guests enjoyed a Diamond Luncheon hosted by Paula Kontelj, including a fabulous High Tide fashion parade and speech from Diversitat’s Bridgette Carey and Caroline Hawkins focusing on the women’s programs undertaken in our community. “The event was a fantastic and fun day, raising vital funds for Give Where You Live,” Bill Mithen, CEO Give Where You Live said. “We are committed to this event being a permanent fixture on the Give Where You Live calendar.”

01. Isabel Sweetapple, Gabrielle Nagle, Lesley Lightfoot, Kath Egan, Terry Barrow, Julie Pavletich. 02. Michelle Pidgeon, Pam Hansen, Isabel Sweetapple and Maxine Noske. 03. Jane Corneby and Wendy Maloney (CroweHorwath) enjoy the Candy Buffet. 04. Models from High Tide Fashion Parade. 05. Margie Black, Mary Roache, Jane Hirst, Maree Wills. 06. Julie Pavletich, Janice Zentgraf, Ida Kibbis and Jean Paul.

photos melissa bevan 56 Ruby Autumn

ruby beauty

WAXING? WEÊRE OVER IT! When you think about it, waxing represents very poor value for money. We’re just paying for those same hairy bits of us to be ripped out over and over again. Unwanted hair can be anything from a bit of a nuisance to a major problem for many people, young and old, men and women. They tweeze and pluck and shave and wax, only to have to do it all over again in a matter of days – or weeks, if we’re lucky. Waxing is often touted as a ‘good’ way to get rid of unwanted hair; you can even DIY if you’re particularly brave – and most of us have. But while it is a quick fi x, it’s also a short-term solution that comes with significant, long-term expense. Helen Hochreiter is the highly experienced owner and skilled operator of Geelong Laser and Electrolysis Clinic, and, as the name suggests, she does not offer waxing in her permanent hair removal clinic in Belmont. “No, I don’t do waxing,” she says. “I don’t like it, I don’t like doing it and it presents a lot of problems for some people.” Tales of howls of pain from big brave men and agonised screams from women (who vow that childbirth is a piece of cake in comparison) and resultant red spotty rashes, ingrown hairs, folliculitis and ripped skin in, ahem, delicate areas were enough to convince Helen long ago that technology offered much better hair removal solutions for her clients.

Geelong’s specialists in laser hair removal and electrolysis

But first and foremost, Helen wants to dispel the myth that waxing is cheap and laser is expensive. “Quite the opposite!” as Elizabeth Bennett was once heard to say. “So many people don’t consider a course of laser or electrolysis due to the perceived cost factor, but when you think about it, if someone opts for waxing, it’s an ongoing, long-term commitment and it represents really poor economy,” says Helen. Many new clients tell Helen that they’ve come to her for permanent hair removal because when it comes to waxing, they’re ‘over it’. Helen’s state-of-the-art Soprano 4B diode laser machine is a much less painful experience, “and we don’t have nearly the same issues with ingrown hairs with the laser or electrolysis as they do with waxing,” she says. Geelong Laser and Electrolysis Clinic is offering a special price of $99 per treatment for bikini line and underarm. A typical course of 6 to 8 sessions will result in permanent removal of that hair – and no inconvenience of unwanted hair at crucial times such as a hot date, going on a beach holiday or a spa night. “A typical waxing job for those areas is $40– $50 every 4 to 6 weeks – and that is never-ending; there’s no end point,” says Helen.

Helen Hochreiter & Lyn Waugh

Remember, waxing isn’t a permanent solution to unwanted hair; it certainly isn’t cheap and it’s very harsh on vulnerable skin. Geelong Laser and Electrolysis Clinic offers state of the art technology at a very reasonable cost, just to make sure that all your unwanted hair is out of your life, permanently! Geelong Laser and Electrolysis Clinic 49 Thomson Street Belmont Phone 5243 0431 www.geelonglaserelectrolysis.com.au words anna-marie hughes

49 Thomson St, Belmont 3216 P (03) 5243 0431 geelonglaserelectrolysis.com.au 57 Ruby Autumn

ruby q&a

Mel Doyle on the daily juggle She was breakfast television’s bubbly mum, but channel 7’s Melissa Doyle is making the most of life after Sunrise.

he is fit and rested, and glowing with health and happiness – or, as the boys of Ruby HQ noted, ‘She looks hot’. This April sees the release of Mel’s new book, Alphabet Soup, in which she honestly and often hilariously writes about juggling life on TV and trying not to drop the load as a mother. Mel will be the special guest speaker at the Business Technology Specialists Administrative Professionals Breakfast on May 7, with the annual Give Where You Live event hosted again this year by Mel’s friend and fellow channel 7 journo, Rebecca Maddern. Ruby spoke to Mel about the ups and downs of working motherhood. Q: What made you write Alphabet Soup? I want to bust the perception that my job somehow makes it easier or different to any other mum out there doing the juggle of children, paid work or being at home.

wouldn’t take a work experience kid I went in anyway and called myself the coffee girl. Q: Who was your most inspiring interview and why? I can’t pick one. I have met so many amazing people and heard their stories – some of them famous, many more not. I am always inspired when I meet people who are resilient, such as those who have survived a bushfire, or those who are at the top of their game but remain gracious. Q: You have been so open about your life is a working mum, what was the worst moment of the juggle for you? Probably when the kids were babies. When Talia was little I would get up at 2am,

Q: What are the moments you still laugh about? Taking Sunrise to QLD and expressing one morning before going on air. It was my first time away from my baby and I was a little stressed so … well, it wasn’t really working smoothly. The floor manager was calling for me and I had to yell through the door to Kochie to tell them to leave me alone. I’ve had so many fun moments on air. And once I would get the giggles there wasn’t much that could stop me. Q: What do you think your kids have learnt from you as a working parent?

I think we are all doing our best – sometimes it seems easy and works smoothly, other times it doesn’t. And my life is no different to anyone else’s, save for a few factors that come with my job. I still have endless washing to do, kids fighting, an empty fridge, homework to battle with, weeks when I’m tired and I question it all, and weeks when I high five myself that possibly I’ve got this thing sussed. Then I’ll lose my keys…

I hope they learn that you need to work hard to achieve your goals, whatever they may be. And that if you are lucky enough to find a job that makes you happy and satisfied then your life will be richer for it. Q: You are a World Vision Ambassador and recently went to Syria to film a series of Special Reports for channel 7, how did that experience impact on you?

I think the more we are honest with each other about how hard it can sometimes be, and the more we reach out and support one another, the better it will be for us and our families.

My work with World Vision has been life changing. I am so privileged as a journalist to be able to bring these stories to viewers and I am privileged as a person to be able to see some extraordinary places and meet inspiring people. peop

Q: Did you always want to work in the media or did you have other plans as a kid?

I bonded with Hind, a 15 year-old bon girl I met in a refugee camp in Lebanon on that trip. She has h fled Syria and her beautiful home and was living in a ho cardboard lined tent in the Bekaa ca valley. valle Her story, strength, pride and optimism will stay with me forever. optim

Once I realised I didn’t have the stomach to be a vet or the maths to be an astronaut, I settled on journalism from about the age of 14. I took myself off to every place that would let me come in – the local newspaper, a TV station in Coffs harbour, and a radio station in Sydney. I did heaps of work experience and when they said no, they

Q: If you yo could do anything you wanted tomorrow for the entire wan day, day what would it be? Absolutely bso ute y nothing. words davina ina montgomery

58 Ruby Autumn

breastfeed at 3am, go to work, go on air for 3 hours, race home for the mid morning feed and spend my day caring for a baby, a two year-old and managing my job. It was a bit challenging! But having said that, it was a choice I made, and it did get easier.

ruby book club

AUTUMN READING

THE WOMEN’S HEALTH BOOK

VIPER WINE

OVERWHELMED

SIR RODERICK THE NOT VERY BRAVE

The Royal Women’s Hospital

Hermione Eyre

Brigid Schulte

James O’Loughlin

As a woman, looking after your health is the most important step you can take towards creating a healthy, happy family and a thriving community. But it’s not always easy to find information you can trust.

At Whitehall Palace in 1632, the ladies at the court of Charles I are beginning to look suspiciously alike. Plump cheeks, dilated pupils, and a heightened sense of pleasure are the first signs that they have been drinking a potent new beauty tonic, Viper Wine.

Brigid Schulte has baked cupcakes until 2am. She has carried her BlackBerry on school field trips, hyperventilating with fear that she would be fired, and then gone back to work until 4am after her children were in bed. Her refrigerator is broken, her To Do list never seems to get any shorter, and the laundry pile in the upstairs hallway often looms waist-high...

Read this yourself, and then give it to the kids. From the agile mind of comedian and broadcaster James O’Loughlin comes this very funny adventure tale.

The Women’s Health Book was written specifically for women by health professionals who specialise in women’s health and inside it you’ll find information and advice for every stage of your life, from adolescence through to older age. Covering everything from periods, sexuality, bullying and diet to pregnancy, mental health, cancer and arthritis, this is an essential reference book for every Australian woman’s shelf. Armed with the facts, you can ask more questions and then make better choices that can help to improve your health, reduce any risks you face, and even prevent future health problems.

Famed beauty, Venetia Stanley, is extravagantly dazzling. She has inspired Ben Jonson to poetry and Van Dyck to painting, but now her “mid-climacteric” approaches, all that adoration has curdled to scrutiny, she fears her powers are waning. From the whispering court at Whitehall, to the charlatan physicians of Eastcheap, here is a marriage in crisis, and a country on the brink of civil war. Based on real events, Viper Wine is 1632 rendered in Pop Art prose - a place to find alchemy, seventeenthcentury beauty potions, a Borgesian unfinished library and a submarine that sails beneath the Thames.

She is not proud of this. And she worries that, though she tells her nine-year-old daughter that she can be anything she wants, she is beginning to that it is simply not possible, as a woman, to be anything you want to be, have a family, and still have time to breathe. So when Brigid met an eminent sociologist who studies time, and he told her that she enjoyed thirty hours of leisure each week, she thought her head was going to pop off.

All Roderick ever wanted to stay on the family farm and make potions to sell at the local market. But fate, it seems, has other plans, and when in an unintentional act of valor Roderick saves the Queen’s life, he finds he’s been made a knight. The only problem is, Roderick hates fighting and he’s the laughing stock of the other knights. On a quest to find a mysterious sorcerer, in the company of an invisible and extremely bossy girl, and confronted by cannibal cave people, giant cockroaches and a talking bear. Along the way he will doubt everything he’s ever believed in, and the fate of the kingdom will depend on whether he can learn to trust himself.

59 Ruby Autumn

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